Indian Navy to commission stealth frigates Udaygiri, Himgiri at Visakhapatnam

The Indian Navy is set to commission two state-of-the-art Project 17A stealth frigates, Udaygiri and Himgiri, at Naval Base, Visakhapatnam, on Tuesday (August 27, 2025).

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will preside over the event, which will mark the first-ever simultaneous commissioning of two frontline warships built at different shipyards.

The Ministry of Defence stated that both vessels are follow-on variants of the Shivalik-class frigates, featuring enhanced stealth capabilities, advanced weaponry, and modern sensor systems designed to execute the full spectrum of maritime operations in blue-water conditions. Udaygiri, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai, and Himgiri, constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, showcase India’s growing shipbuilding expertise and inter-yard collaboration. Notably, Udaygiri was the fastest of her class to be delivered after launch, owing to the adoption of modular construction techniques.

Designed in-house by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), Udaygiri is the 100th vessel designed by the bureau, marking a milestone in five decades of indigenous warship design. Both frigates are fitted with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion, an Integrated Platform Management System, and advanced Indian-made weapons and sensors. With nearly 75% indigenous content — supported by hundreds of MSMEs — the ships embody the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Ministry added.

Reviving the heritage of earlier warships that bore these names, the new Udaygiri and Himgiri will now join the Eastern Fleet, substantially enhancing the Navy’s operational reach and reaffirming India’s maritime resolve in the Indian Ocean Region.