Rajnath Singh boosts Indian Navy’s maritime power; INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri commissioned

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday commissioned two multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, here at the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.

Udaygiri and Himagiri come from the Indian Navy's latest state-of-the-art Project 17 A and the commissioning marks the first occasion when two frontline surface combatants constructed at two different shipyards were commissioned simultaneously. This development underscores the growing maritime importance of India's eastern seaboard.

The two are follow-on ships of the Project 17 (Shivalik) class frigates, and both the vessels incorporate significant improvements in design, stealth, weapon and sensor systems, capable of executing a full spectrum of maritime missions in ‘blue water' conditions, according to Defence officials.

INS warship Udaygiri. PIC/X@SpokespersonMoD

"Two state-of-the-art combatant platforms join the Indian Navy fleet, fortifying India's strength at sea..." said the Indian Navy in a post on X late on Monday. Udaygiri is the second ship from Project 17A stealth frigates and was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. Himgiri is the first of P17A ships to be constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.

Udaygiri also holds the distinction of being the fastest ship of her class to be delivered post-launch, a result of the modular construction methodology adopted by Indian shipyards. Displacing about 6700 tonnes, the P17A class frigates are roughly five per cent larger than their predecessor Shivalik-class frigates, incorporating a sleeker form with a reduced radar cross section.

The weapons suite of these frigates include supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium range surface-to-air missiles, 76 mm MR Gun and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems.

With 75 percent indigenous content, the frigates align with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) in defence manufacturing. The commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri will augment the Navy's combat readiness and reaffirm India's resolve to achieve self-reliance in warship design and construction. The two frigates will join the Eastern Fleet, strengthening India's ability to safeguard its maritime interests across the Indian Ocean Region.

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