Rajnath Singh commissions INS Mahendragiri, India’s sixth indigenous Project 17A stealth frigate

India strengthened its naval capabilities on Saturday as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned INS Mahendragiri, the sixth Project 17A Nilgiri-class stealth frigate, into the Indian Navy at the Visakhapatnam dockyard.

Rajnath Singh received a Guard of Honour during the commissioning ceremony, describing the induction of the indigenously built warship as a proud milestone for the nation and a major boost to India’s maritime strength.

Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, INS Mahendragiri is the first Indian naval warship to bear the name. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, the stealth frigate showcases India’s growing expertise in indigenous warship design and construction.

With more than 75 per cent indigenous content, the vessel is a key example of the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Its construction involved numerous Indian industries, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), strengthening the country’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and generating employment.

INS Mahendragiri is equipped with advanced indigenous weapons, sensors and electronic warfare systems, enabling it to undertake anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. The warship is also capable of maritime security operations, search and rescue missions, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and extended deployments across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.

The commissioning marks another milestone in the Project 17A programme, under which the Indian Navy is inducting a new generation of stealth frigates to enhance its combat capability and reinforce India’s position as a leading indigenous warship-building nation.

Ahead of the ceremony, Rajnath Singh said INS Mahendragiri reflects India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing and stands ready to safeguard the country’s maritime interests while strengthening security in the Indo-Pacific region.