INS Mahendragiri (F38) joins the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy on 11th of July 2026. It is the sixth and last vessel of the Project 17A program of stealth frigates was inaugurated by Honorable Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Visakhapatnam. This event marked an important milestone undertaken by India towards achieving self-sufficiency in defense and building indigenous warships. The navy has designed and built INS Mahendragiri in India, where more than 75% of components have been fulfilled indigenously.
What is INS Mahendragiri?
INS Mahendragiri (F38) is an Indian indigenous stealth frigate having weapons in the Project-17A under the Indian Navy.
This is the last vessel in the class of Project 17A and an advancement in the stealth warships that are multi-purpose in warfare.
The ship has been,
- Designed by Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy
- Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai
The addition of the INS Mahendragiri will enhance the local defense production in the India under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
What Is Project 17A?
Project 17A is the continuation of Project 17 in the production of Shivalik class stealth frigates.
The objective of this project is the creation of advanced stealth frigates with better,
- Stealth capacity
- Automation
- Survival capacity
- Combative capacity
- Modern network-centric warfare systems
Project 17A makes use of contemporary design methods and modular construction technology for quick building and high efficiency of vessels.
This initiative is one of the most significant Indian naval projects in terms of indigenous shipbuilding.
Key Feature of INS Mahendragiri
INS Mahendragiri is integrated with several technologies that make it one of the strongest and notable assets of the Indian Navy.
State-of-the-Art Stealth Features
The frigate has,
- Low radar signature
- Advanced stealth technology
- Excellent acoustic technology
- Low heat signature
Dominant Indigenous Content
75 percent of the systems have come from Indian sources.
For the development of the project, the participation of,
- Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs)
- Private defence companies
- Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
has been obtained.
High Level of Automation
- The advanced automated systems employed by INS Mahendragiri lead to increased productivity of the operations and decreasing requirements of the crew.
- Capabilities of the Frigate with respect to Combat and Weaponry
Weapons and Combat Capabilities
The ship is designed for all types of maritime combat situations. The ship is equipped with both latest and indigenous technology.
Anti-air operations
The ship has facilities that allow it to identify and destroy enemy aircraft.
Anti-surface operations
Thanks to its capabilities, the frigate can destroy the enemy fleet without being present in a range of the enemy guns.
Anti-submarine operations
The ship has a number of sophisticated equipment to deal with underwater threats.
Electronic warfare
It uses modern technology to enhance its ability to combat enemy electronic weapons, missiles or countermeasures
Operational Functions of INS Mahendragiri
INS Mahendragiri is used for various marine activities other than conventional warfare operations. The functions of the vessel include,
- Maritime safety operations
- Search and Rescue
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
- Maritime reconnaissance
- Long-distance missions
- Protection of Sea Lines of Communication
The vessel can carry out successfully the operations in areas of the IOR, and even beyond.
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