Stealth frigates Udaygiri, Himgiri to be commissioned in Vizag on Aug 26

Visakhapatnam: In a first for Indian Navy, two advanced frontline frigates — Udaygiri (F35) and Himgiri (F34) — would be simultaneously commissioned at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on Aug 26.

The two surface combatants have been entirely built and developed in the country. While Udaygiri, the second ship in the Project 17A stealth frigates, has been built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai, Himgiri, which is the first of P17A ships, was developed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata. In another milestone for Indian Navy, Udaygiri is the 100th ship designed by the Navy's inhouse warship design bureau.

Stealthy, versatile, and indigenous, Udaygiri and Himgiri represent a generational leap over earlier designs. Displacing about 6,700 tons, the P17A frigates are roughly five percent larger than their predecessor Shivalik-class frigates and yet incorporate a sleeker form, with a reduced radar cross section. They are powered by combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion plants using diesel engines and gas turbines that drive controllable-pitch propellers and are managed through an integrated platform management system. The weapon suite includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium range surface-to-air missiles, 76mm MR gun, a combination of 30mm and 12.7mm close-in weapon systems, besides anti-submarine underwater weapon systems.

Both ships are the result of an industrial ecosystem spanning over 200 MSMEs, supporting approximately 4,000 direct and over 10,000 indirect jobs. The commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri underscores the Navy's commitment to self-reliance in ship design and construction and follows the commissioning of other indigenous platforms, including destroyer INS Surat, frigate INS Nilgiri, submarine INS Vaghsheer, ASW shallow watercraft INS Arnala, and diving support vessel INS Nistar — all in 2025 alone. Rigorous sea trials have validated the frigates' hull, machinery, firefighting, damage control, navigation and communication systems, ensuring they are ready for operational deployment.

The joint commissioning ceremony of the two frigates at ENC Visakhapatnam will be more than a naval ritual; it will be a celebration of India's journey towards a robust and self-sufficient maritime defence ecosystem. As the nation watches the two grey hulls take their place in the fleet, the message will be clear: India's oceans are guarded by ships built in India, designed by Indians, and staffed by Indians — a true embodiment of the Make in India initiative and a beacon of the country's rising maritime power.