Rajnath commissions 'INS Mahendragiri' into Navy, says indigenous stealth warship will 'extend India's blue-water reach, consolidate presence in IOR'

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said ‘INS Mahendragiri’ is a “reflection of India’s growing self-reliance in shipbuilding” as he commissioned the indigenously-built advanced stealth frigate into the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam.He also said the manufacturing of the advanced warship shows the country’s “exceptional design capabilities, manufacturing excellence, the rapid growth of the naval-industrial ecosystem, and its ability to deliver state-of-the-art platforms in a timely manner.Named after the majestic Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, ‘INS Mahendragiri’ is the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate to be inducted into the Indian Navy in a span of just 1.5 years.

Designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, the ship is capable of undertaking the full spectrum of maritime operations, including fleet air defence, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, surveillance and humanitarian assistance & disaster relief (HADR).“INS Mahendragiri can be equipped with the BrahMos surface-to-surface missile, one of the world's fastest and most lethal cruise missiles.

It also features a combination of multifunction radar and surface-to-air missiles capable of detecting and neutralising aerial threats at extended ranges. Its arsenal also includes an indigenous rocket launcher, torpedo launchers, an integrated anti-submarine defence system, an electronic warfare suite and a close-in weapon system.

All these capabilities make the warship formidable and resilient,” said Rajnath, exuding confidence that the “blue-water ship” will safeguard India’s maritime interests not just near the coast but far out in the deep oceans as well.The first ship of the Project 17A series ‘INS Nilgiri’ was commissioned in Jan 2025, followed by ‘INS Udaygiri’ & ‘INS Himgiri’ in Aug, ‘INS Taragiri’ in April this year and ‘INS Dunagiri’ last month.The warship, with over 75% indigenous content, has a displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes and the capability to reach speeds of up to 28 knots. It is equipped with supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine warfare capabilities and an embarked multi-role helicopter, as well as advanced stealth features, modern sensors, network-centric combat systems and state-of-the-art weapon suites.Upon joining the Navy’s Eastern Fleet, the Indian Navy's Sunrise Fleet, INS Mahendragiri will significantly enhance India's maritime combat capability and operational reach in the Indian Ocean Region, reinforcing India's commitment to a future-ready Navy under the vision of MAHASAGAR.Rajnath emphasised that while emerging technologies such as drones, AI, cyber warfare, space-based capabilities, hypersonic weapons and unmanned systems have significantly transformed the nature of warfare, conventional military capabilities continue to form the bedrock of effective defence.

“Future wars may be fought with AI, but they will still be won by national resolve, trained soldiers and credible military power,” he said while stressing that advanced technologies and conventional platforms complement one another rather than act as competitors.The minister asserted that maritime and economic security are closely linked to each other, and the seas are vital not only for national security but also for trade, supply chains, energy security and economic growth.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region, he reaffirmed the govt’s commitment to the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).“India is a net security provider and a trusted partner dedicated to ensuring security and development across the region,” said Rajnath, while praising the Indian Navy for consistently demonstrating this commitment through its role in HADR operations, anti-piracy missions and the evacuation of Indian and foreign nationals from crisis-hit areas.

The Indian Navy has earned the recognition as both a first responder and a preferred security partner in the Indo-Pacific through its timely & effective operational response, he added.The defence minister voiced PM Modi-led govt’s commitment to maintaining a balanced approach by investing in next-generation technologies while continuing to strengthen its conventional capabilities. “Operation Sindoor was a prime example of the effective integration of conventional and modern capabilities to safeguard national security,” he said, adding that INS Mahendragiri is a symbol of the nation's commitment to building a technologically advanced and combat-ready Navy.Referring to the Indian Navy’s role during the West Asia conflict, Rajnath stated that under Operation Urja Suraksha, it safely escorted 18 merchant vessels carrying essential cargo valued at over Rs 9,000 crore. These efforts, he stressed, reflect the Navy’s role not only as a fighting force but also as a key protector of India’s economic interests. He expressed confidence that INS Mahendragiri will further strengthen this overall maritime strategy, as it will enhance the strength of the eastern seaboard, extend India’s blue-water reach, and further consolidate its presence in the Indian Ocean Region. The minister highlighted that indigenous warship construction goes beyond creating combat platforms as it strengthens design capabilities, technological expertise, skilled manpower and the overall maritime industrial ecosystem. He added that shipbuilding drives growth across multiple sectors, including steel, electronics, sensors, propulsion systems, software, precision engineering and logistics, generating employment, fostering innovation and contributing to economic growth.Rajnath underlined the govt’s vision to establish India as a global hub for shipbuilding and maritime defence innovation, stating that the country is progressing through initiatives such as the Maritime India Vision 2030, which aim to modernise ports, expand inland waterways, strengthen logistics networks and develop a world-class maritime ecosystem. He also enumerated key measures, including the Maritime Development Fund, Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme and Shipbuilding Development Scheme that aim to enhance industrial capacity, strengthen self-reliance and safeguard economic interests.Rajnath exhorted the nation’s young entrepreneurs, engineers, innovators, researchers and investors to contribute to nation-building by developing technologies that shape the course of future warfare; and create systems that make India self-reliant.Navy chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan termed INS Mahendragiri as a symbol of India's growing maritime capability and technological self-reliance. He stated that the commissioning of the sixth Project 17A frigate marks another milestone in indigenous warship construction, significantly enhancing the Indian Navy's operational capability.

He reaffirmed that the Indian Navy remains a combat-ready, credible, cohesive and future-ready force.The Navy chief added that alongside achieving over 75% indigenous content, MDL and the Navy have set several new benchmarks in this project, including reduction of the timeframe from launch to delivery by approximately 50%, dropping from 63 months to 31 months. He further stated that the total construction time has decreased by approx. 20%, falling from 95 months to 75 months, and all technical analyses have been completed in just a single sea trial instead of the usual five to seven sea trials.

These achievements, he said, reflect the collaborative efforts of MDL, Indian manufacturers, MSMEs, the Warship Overseeing Team, trial agencies, and the crew.