To Counter Chinese Presence, Indian Navy To Commission INS Udaygiri, INS Himgiri In Visakhapatnam Tomorrow

The Indian Navy will commission two Nilgiri-class stealth guided-missile frigates—INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri—on 26 August at Visakhapatnam, the Ministry of Defence announced, reported NDTV.

These made-in-India warships form part of Project 17 Alpha (P-17A), under which the lead vessel INS Nilgiri joined the fleet earlier this year.

For the first time, two major surface combatants from different Indian shipyards will be commissioned together. This milestone strengthens India’s naval power and highlights indigenous industrial capability. With these inductions, India will operate a three-frigate squadron that demonstrates technological self-reliance and regional strength.

The P-17A frigates displace about 6,700 tons, nearly 5 per cent larger than Shivalik-class frigates, while maintaining a sleeker design with a reduced radar signature.

They use Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion, integrating diesel engines and gas turbines with controllable-pitch propellers, all managed by an Integrated Platform Management System.

Their weapon suite includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm MR gun, close-in weapon systems, and advanced anti-submarine weapons.

INS Udaygiri, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, marks the 100th ship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. I

NS Himgiri, meanwhile, is the first P-17A ship constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. Together, they emerged from an ecosystem of over 200 MSMEs, generating about 4,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs.

Officials stressed their strategic role in countering China’s growing “string of pearls” presence in the Indian Ocean. “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,” the Ministry stated.

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