INS Mahendragiri, India’s sixth indigenous Project 17A stealth frigate, joins the Indian Navy, strengthening maritime security, boosting blue-water capabilities, reinforcing the eastern seaboard, and advancing defence self-reliance, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said during the commissioning ceremony in Visakhapatnam.
India’s maritime strength received a significant boost on Saturday with the commissioning of INS Mahendragiri, the sixth indigenous stealth frigate built under Project 17A, into the Indian Navy. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who presided over the commissioning ceremony in Visakhapatnam, described the warship as a major addition to the country’s naval capabilities that would reinforce the eastern seaboard, extend India’s blue-water reach, and strengthen its strategic presence across the Indian Ocean Region.
The induction of INS Mahendragiri marks another milestone in India’s growing indigenous defence manufacturing programme and underlines the country’s commitment to becoming self-reliant in defence production. The commissioning ceremony was attended by senior naval officers, defence officials, shipbuilders, and dignitaries, reflecting the strategic importance of the vessel for India’s maritime security architecture.
Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh highlighted the significance of commissioning the warship in Visakhapatnam, home to the Eastern Naval Command and one of India’s most important naval bases.
“It is a beautiful coincidence that this commissioning is being done in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam. Visakhapatnam is not only the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command but also one of the strongest pillars of India’s maritime power. Andhra Pradesh has today emerged as a defence and aerospace manufacturing powerhouse while continuing its proud legacy of courage and service,” he said.
The Defence Minister traced the rapid progress of the Project 17A programme, pointing out that INS Mahendragiri is the sixth advanced stealth frigate commissioned within a remarkably short period. He recalled that INS Nilgiri, the first vessel in the class, was commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2025, followed by INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri in August 2025, INS Taragiri in April 2026, and INS Dunagiri in June 2026.
With the induction of INS Mahendragiri, the Indian Navy now has six frontline indigenous stealth frigates commissioned over the past one-and-a-half years, highlighting India’s growing expertise in naval shipbuilding and defence technology.
Singh said the pace at which these advanced warships have entered service reflects not only India’s industrial capabilities but also the increasing confidence of the nation’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
“There was a time when we depended on foreign countries for our defence requirements. Today, our own engineers, scientists and workers are building sophisticated warships in Indian shipyards. This transformation represents India’s determination to achieve self-reliance in defence production,” he said.
INS Mahendragiri is a formidable multi-role stealth frigate with a displacement of nearly 6,670 tonnes and a maximum speed of around 28 knots. The vessel has been designed for operations across vast oceanic distances and is capable of carrying out a wide range of missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and air defence operations.
Describing the vessel as a true blue-water warship, Rajnath Singh said its operational role extends far beyond India’s coastline.
“It will not only safeguard our coastal waters but also operate deep in the oceans to protect India’s strategic and economic interests. India has always navigated the seas with confidence, and today we are building the capability to shape the maritime domain itself,” he remarked.
One of the defining features of INS Mahendragiri is its high level of indigenous content. According to the Defence Minister, more than 75 per cent of the ship’s components have been designed and manufactured within the country, demonstrating India’s growing technological capabilities.
The warship is equipped with several advanced combat systems, including the BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile, one of the fastest and most lethal missiles in the world. It also carries sophisticated multifunction radar systems integrated with long-range surface-to-air missile capabilities, enabling it to detect, track and neutralise aerial threats at considerable distances.
In addition, the frigate features indigenous rocket launchers, torpedo launchers, an Integrated Anti-Submarine Defence System, a modern Electronic Warfare suite, and a Close-In Weapon System that provides layered defence against incoming threats.
Singh said these capabilities make INS Mahendragiri as “formidable and impregnable” as the mountain after which it is named.
The Defence Minister also addressed the changing nature of warfare, noting that while emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence are transforming military operations, they cannot replace conventional military strength.
“Future wars may increasingly involve Artificial Intelligence and advanced technologies, but they will ultimately be won through national determination, highly trained personnel and credible conventional military capabilities,” he stated.
He stressed that technological innovation and traditional military platforms should complement one another rather than compete.
“A conventional platform without advanced technology is incomplete, while advanced technology without a strong conventional platform is equally ineffective. Nations that ignored their conventional military strength in pursuit of technological trends have often paid a heavy price,” Singh observed.
India’s defence strategy, he said, focuses on maintaining the right balance by investing simultaneously in next-generation technologies and strengthening conventional military assets.
According to the Defence Minister, INS Mahendragiri embodies this balanced approach and reflects India’s commitment to building a future-ready Navy while preserving strong conventional capabilities.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region, Singh said the area has become one of the world’s most significant geopolitical theatres, with India playing an increasingly important role in ensuring peace, security and stability.
He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “MAHASAGAR” (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), which seeks to promote inclusive security and sustainable development throughout the Indo-Pacific.
“India has emerged as a trusted partner and a net security provider across the Indo-Pacific. Our Navy continues to contribute significantly to regional stability, humanitarian assistance and maritime security,” he said.
The Defence Minister also cited Operation Urja Suraksha, launched during the recent conflict in West Asia, as an example of the Indian Navy’s growing operational effectiveness.
During the operation, the Navy safely escorted 18 merchant vessels carrying essential cargo valued at over Rs 9,000 crore, ensuring uninterrupted maritime trade despite heightened regional tensions.
“This demonstrates that the Indian Navy is not merely a fighting force. It is also a guardian of India’s economic interests and maritime trade routes,” Singh said.
Concluding his address, the Defence Minister expressed confidence that INS Mahendragiri would significantly strengthen India’s comprehensive maritime strategy by enhancing operational preparedness along the eastern seaboard, expanding the Navy’s blue-water operational capabilities and reinforcing India’s strategic footprint across the Indian Ocean Region.
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With its advanced indigenous technology, powerful weapon systems, stealth features and long-range operational capabilities, INS Mahendragiri represents another important step in India’s journey towards defence self-reliance while strengthening the country’s position as a leading maritime power in the Indo-Pacific. The commissioning of the advanced stealth frigate also reflects the Indian Navy’s continuing modernisation efforts aimed at safeguarding national security, protecting maritime commerce and ensuring stability across one of the world’s most strategically important regions.
