Indian Navy to commission stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri on July 11; check its capabilities

The Indian Navy will commission the indigenous stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri on July 11, adding another advanced warship to its fleet under the Project 17A programme, as per a PTI report. Equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, the warship has been designed for a wide range of maritime operations.

INS Mahendragiri was designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai. It is the sixth vessel of the Nilgiri-class under Project 17A.

Advanced weapons and operational capabilities

According to the Indian Navy, the frigate is equipped with an advanced suite of indigenous weapons and sensors, including surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems, sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities, comprehensive anti-submarine warfare systems and an integrated combat management system.


The warship is capable of carrying out anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine operations. It is also designed for maritime security, power projection, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue missions, and sustained operational deployments.

Its primary armament includes BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for long-range precision strikes and Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles for air defence. The frigate is also equipped with advanced torpedoes, rocket launchers and AK-630 close-in weapon systems to counter a range of combat threats.

The warship is 149 metres long, displaces around 6,670 tonnes and is capable of reaching a top speed of about 28 knots. It also incorporates advanced stealth features that reduce its radar signature, enhancing its survivability during operations.

Stealth features and indigenous content

INS Mahendragiri incorporates advanced stealth features, improved survivability, reduced radar signature and a high degree of automation.

The frigate is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, enabling high-speed operations with extended endurance across a wide range of maritime missions.

With more than 75 per cent indigenous content, the vessel reflects the Government of India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the frigate is intended to strengthen India's maritime capabilities and contribute to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Project 17A programme gathers pace

The Navy said INS Mahendragiri was delivered by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited on April 30. Its construction involved a large network of Indian industries, including several Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, supporting employment and strengthening the country's defence manufacturing ecosystem.

The commissioning marks another milestone in the Project 17A programme, whose ships feature more advanced weapon and sensor systems than the earlier Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates.

Previous Project 17A inductions

INS Dunagiri, the fifth Nilgiri-class frigate under Project 17A, was commissioned on June 21 alongside the Survey Vessel (Large) Sanshodhak and the fourth Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, Agray, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Earlier, INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of the Project 17A class, entered service on January 15, 2025. INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri were commissioned on August 26, 2025, while INS Taragiri joined the Navy on April 3 in Visakhapatnam in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.