New Delhi/Visakhapatnam, July 11 (NVI): India on Saturday commissioned the indigenously-built stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri into the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh describing the warship as a major milestone in the country’s drive towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The sixth and final frigate under the Project 17A programme was commissioned at Visakhapatnam in the presence of the defence minister, senior naval officers and other dignitaries.
Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, the warship has over 75 per cent indigenous content and is equipped with advanced stealth features, modern sensors and a range of sophisticated weapon systems.
Addressing the commissioning ceremony, Singh said INS Mahendragiri reflected India’s growing capability in indigenous warship design and construction and underscored the country’s commitment to building a technologically advanced and combat-ready Navy.
He said the frigate would strengthen India’s maritime security architecture, extend its blue-water operational reach and reinforce its presence in the Indian Ocean Region.
The 6,670-tonne warship is capable of speeds of up to 28 knots and can undertake a wide range of operations, including fleet air defence, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, surveillance and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
The ship can be armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, anti-submarine rocket launchers, an integrated electronic warfare suite and close-in weapon systems.
Highlighting the changing nature of warfare, Singh said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, cyber warfare and space-based capabilities were transforming military operations, but stressed that conventional military strength remained the foundation of national defence.
“Future wars may be fought with artificial intelligence, but they will still be won by national resolve, trained soldiers and credible military power,” he said.
The defence minister said the government would continue investing in next-generation technologies while simultaneously strengthening conventional military capabilities.
Emphasising the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific, Singh said India remained committed to the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), adding that the Indian Navy had emerged as a “first responder” and “preferred security partner” through its humanitarian, anti-piracy and maritime security operations.
He also referred to the Navy’s role in safeguarding merchant shipping during the West Asia conflict, saying it had escorted 18 merchant vessels carrying cargo worth over Rs 9,000 crore under Operation Urja Suraksha.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said the commissioning of INS Mahendragiri marked another milestone in indigenous warship construction and significantly enhanced the Navy’s operational capability.
He said the Project 17A programme had achieved several milestones, including reducing the launch-to-delivery timeline by nearly 50 per cent and cutting the overall construction period by around 20 per cent compared with earlier projects.
Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, INS Mahendragiri was built with contributions from more than 200 Indian industries, including several micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
With its induction into the Eastern Fleet, the warship is expected to enhance the Indian Navy’s operational reach and maritime combat capability in the Indian Ocean Region.(NVI)
