Navy commissions multi-mission stealth frigates; can carry BrahMos

The Navy on Tuesday simultaneously commissioned two advanced frontline warships -- the INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri -- at an event held at Visakhapatnam. The ceremony, presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks the first time that two major warships constructed by Indian shipyards have been commissioned together.

The minister said, “These warships’ weapons and sensor packages make them the unparalleled guardians of the sea. These warships can cover long distances, have advanced systems such as surface-to-surface air missiles, supersonic BrahMos missiles, torpedo launchers, combat management systems and fire control systems.”

Both these ships are part of “Project 17-A”, a programme to build stealth frigates. The Udaygiri was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, while the Himgiri was constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, both of which are defence ministry-owned enterprises.

Representing a generational leap in naval design, the P17-A stealth frigates displace approximately 6,700 tonnes. They are about five per cent larger than the preceding Shivalik-class frigates but feature a sleeker, more stealth-oriented form with a significantly reduced radar cross-section. Equipped with a state-of-the-art arsenal, the warships are armed with the land-attack version of the Brahmos missile, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, and advanced anti-submarine warfare systems.

Propulsion is provided by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) plant, which integrates diesel engines and gas turbines to drive controllable-pitch propellers. All machinery is managed through a sophisticated Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).

The Ministry of Defence stated that these next-generation warships significantly enhanced the Navy's ability to safeguard national interests across the full spectrum of maritime missions. Following rigorous sea trials that validated their hull, machinery, and combat systems, including firefighting, damage control, navigation and communications, the two frigates are now ready for operational deployment. They will join the Eastern Fleet, bolstering India’s maritime defence capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region.