New Delhi: The Indian Navy is set to commission the sixth of the seven Project 17A-class stealth frigates in Visakhapatnam on July 11.
The ship was designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai. Mahendragiri, the sixth ship of the Project 17A class, exemplifies India’s growing expertise in indigenous warship design and construction. The frigate is named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, and the Navy has said it “embodies resilience, strength, and unwavering resolve.”
“As the first Indian naval warship to bear this name, Mahendragiri is truly sui generis. She is now poised to forge a distinguished legacy and add another proud chapter to India’s maritime history,” the Navy said in a statement.
As the Indian Navy continues to strengthen its maritime capabilities through indigenous warship construction, Mahendragiri — designated a Mission Primed unit — carries the motto “Mighty, Majestic, Matchless.” The frigate incorporates advanced stealth features, enhanced survivability, a reduced radar signature, and a high degree of automation. It is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, enabling high-speed operations with exceptional endurance across the full spectrum of maritime missions.
Mahendragiri is equipped with an advanced suite of indigenous, state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems, sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities, comprehensive anti-submarine warfare systems, and an integrated Combat Management System. Capable of anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine operations, the frigate is equally suited for maritime security, power projection, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), search and rescue, and sustained-presence missions.
The Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) comprises seven stealth frigates in all: INS Nilgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Himgiri, INS Taragiri, INS Dunagiri, Mahendragiri and Vindhyagiri. INS Nilgiri, the lead ship, was commissioned on January 15, 2025, followed by INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, which were commissioned together on August 26, 2025. INS Taragiri joined the fleet on April 3, 2026, and INS Dunagiri was commissioned on June 21, 2026. Vindhyagiri, the seventh and final ship of the class, is currently undergoing fitting-out and sea trials, and is expected to join the Navy by the end of 2026.
The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Project 17A programme. As successive frigates of the class join the fleet, they continue to strengthen the Indian Navy’s combat capability while reinforcing India’s position as a leading indigenous warship-building nation.
As India strengthens its role as the preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region, Mahendragiri will serve as a formidable force multiplier, safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests and contributing to a secure, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, the Navy said.
Mahendragiri has over 75 per cent indigenous content. Its construction brought together a vast network of Indian industries, including numerous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), generating employment while strengthening the nation’s defence industrial base.