In a first-of-its-kind move, the Indian Navy inducted two cutting-edge stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, on Tuesday at the Visakhapatnam naval base.

The induction ceremony was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and it marked the first instance of two lead warships constructed at different shipyards joining service simultaneously.

Commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri is a major addition to the fighting force of the Navy. The two vessels are part of the advanced Project 17A class, a successor to the Shivalik class frigates, and are designed for multi-mission roles in Blue Water operations. Both ships have enhanced stealth features, improved weapons and sensors, and new propulsion systems.

What makes this induction special is that the two warships were built at two different shipyards, Udaygiri at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai and Himgiri at Keywords:
Indian Navy, INS Udaygiri, INS Himgiri, This collaboration between the two defence shipbuilding giants reflects India’s growing capability in warship construction.

Adding to the milestone, Udaygiri is the 100th ship designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. Both frigates were designed in-house, highlighting decades of expertise in indigenous ship design.

Following the naval tradition of reusing names of earlier warships, the new frigates carry the names of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, both of which had served the nation for over three decades before being decommissioned.

“The commissioning of the new Udaygiri and Himgiri is a tribute to their predecessors’ legacy and brings in a new era of capability,” said a senior naval officer.

The frigates are equipped with Combined Diesel or Gas propulsion systems, an Integrated Platform Management System, as well as a range of advanced sensors and weapons, many of which have been developed indigenously. With an indigenous content of nearly 75 per cent, they are a landmark in the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme.

Hundreds of domestic MSMEs contributed to their construction, further boosting the indigenous share of the project.

Udaygiri also set a record as the fastest ship in her class to be delivered after launch, thanks to modular construction methods adopted by Indian shipyards.

Once fully operational, Udaygiri and Himgiri will join the Eastern Fleet, strengthening India’s maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.

The Shivalik-class follow-on ships of Project 17A bring major advances in design, stealth, weapons, and sensors. Built for missions including surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, electronic operations and surveillance, they are considered vital for securing India’s sea lanes and maritime interests, according to defence officials.