The Indian Navy will commission its newest stealth frigate, Mahendragiri, in Visakhapatnam on July 11, a step towards strengthening its presence in the Indian Ocean region and the larger Indo-Pacific region, amid China’s advance in the vast maritime space.
“As India continues to strengthen its role as the security partner of choice in the Indian Ocean region, Mahendragiri will serve as a formidable force multiplier, protecting the country’s maritime interests and contributing to a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” the Navy said on Monday.
The sixth of seven ghost frigates under $A Rs 45,000-crore Project 17A, the warship is named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats. This comes after three local ships – a stealth frigate, an anti-submarine warfare vehicle and a survey ship – were commissioned on June 21.
India has consistently called for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific region, with an emphasis on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, while emphasizing the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and within the framework of international laws.
The Navy said Project 17A embodies India’s growing experience in designing and building indigenous warships.
“The commissioning of Mahendragiri marks another milestone in the successful implementation of the P-17A. With successive frigates of this class joining the fleet, they continue to enhance the combat capability of the Indian Navy while strengthening India’s position as a leading indigenous warship builder,” she said in a statement.
The last P-17A frigate, Vindhyagiri, will be commissioned later this year. The Nilgiri, Udaygiri, Taragiri and Mahendragiri were built by Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). The Himgiri and Dunagiri were built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata, where Vindhyagiri is being constructed.
The P-17A (or Nilgiri class) platforms reflect India’s advanced warship building capabilities, feature 75% indigenous content and are equipped with advanced weapons, sensors and systems designed to dominate the maritime battlefield. The successor to the Shivalik-class stealth frigates (P-17), the P-17A represents a major leap forward in warship design and capabilities.
The frigates are equipped with modern weapons and sensors, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, Barak-8 surface-to-air missile system, MF-STAR surveillance radar, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The warships have a displacement of 6,670 tons, are 149 meters long, can reach a maximum speed of 28 knots, and carry 225 personnel.
“Incorporating advanced stealth features, enhanced survivability, reduced radar signature and a high degree of automation, the frigate is powered by a state-of-the-art diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion system, enabling high-speed operations with exceptional endurance across the full range of maritime missions,” the Navy added.
The Navy is working to become fully self-reliant by 2047, when India will celebrate 100 years of its independence. There are about 60 warships under construction in Indian shipyards.
