The Indian Navy will commission two Nilgiri-class stealth guided-missile frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at Visakhapatnam on August 26, the Ministry of Defence announced. These are made-in-India warships under Project 17 Alpha (P-17A), following the lead ship INS Nilgiri, which was commissioned earlier this year.

This is the first time two major surface warships from two different Indian shipyards are being commissioned together. With this, India will have a three-frigate squadron showcasing its industrial and technological capabilities as well as regional naval strength.

The P-17A frigates are about five per cent larger than the earlier Shivalik-class frigates but have a sleeker design and lower radar visibility. They weigh around 6,700 tons and are powered by a combination of diesel engines and gas turbines, driving controllable-pitch propellers. Their weapons include supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm gun, close-range weapons, and anti-submarine systems.

INS Udaygiri was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai and is the 100th ship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. INS Himgiri is the first P-17A ship built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.

The ships were developed with contributions from over 200 MSMEs, providing around 4,000 direct jobs and more than 10,000 indirect jobs.

The frigates will strengthen India’s role in the Indo-Pacific and protect its maritime interests, especially in response to China’s growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean. They will secure sea trade routes and enhance India’s naval presence from the Strait of Malacca to Africa.

The commissioning ceremony at Visakhapatnam will mark a milestone in India’s journey toward a strong and self-reliant maritime defence system. The Ministry of Defence said these ships are a symbol of India’s “Make in India” initiative, showcasing ships built, designed, and staffed by Indians, reflecting the country’s growing maritime power.