Indian Navy to Commission INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri

On 26 August 2025, the port city of Visakhapatnam will witness a milestone in India’s maritime journey. For the first time, the Indian Navy will commission two major frontline frigates, INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34), on the same day. This unprecedented event reflects India’s accelerating naval modernisation and self-reliance in defence production.

Two Ships, Two Shipyards

This dual commissioning is special because the ships are products of two prestigious Indian shipyards:

• INS Udaygiri – Second ship in the Project 17A stealth frigate series, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
• INS Himgiri – First P17A frigate constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.

Adding to the significance, INS Udaygiri is the 100th warship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), marking a milestone in indigenous naval design.

Advanced Design and Stealth Capabilities

The P17A frigates are a generation ahead of the earlier Shivalik-class vessels. They:

• Displace 6,700 tonnes, about 5% larger than Shivalik-class ships.
• Feature stealth-optimised hulls with reduced radar signatures.
• Use CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) propulsion, pairing diesel engines for cruising with gas turbines for speed.
• Are controlled by an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for seamless operations.

Formidable Combat Power

The frigates’ armament makes them versatile multi-role warships:

• Supersonic surface-to-surface missiles for long-range precision strikes.
• Medium-range surface-to-air missiles for aerial defence.
• 76 mm main gun for naval engagements.
• Close-in weapon systems (30 mm and 12.7 mm) for last-ditch protection.
• Advanced anti-submarine warfare systems, including torpedoes and sonar.

Boost to Industry and Jobs

The ships are a product of a vast industrial network:

• Built with inputs from 200+ MSMEs.
• Created around 4,000 direct and 10,000+ indirect jobs.
• Serve as a Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat success story in defence manufacturing.

Readiness Through Rigorous Trials

Before commissioning, both frigates passed extensive sea trials, testing:

• Hull integrity and propulsion performance.
• Navigation and communication systems.
• Firefighting and damage control readiness.

These trials confirmed their operational readiness for deployment in challenging maritime environments.

Part of a Bigger 2025 Naval Modernisation Drive

The commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri follows a series of indigenous inductions in 2025, including:

• Destroyer INS Surat
• Frigate INS Nilgiri
• Submarine INS Vaghsheer
• ASW Shallow Water Craft INS Arnala
• Diving Support Vessel INS Nistar