India Strengthens Eastern Fleet As Navy Inducts Stealth Frigates Udaygiri And Himgiri

In a major boost to its maritime strength, the Indian Navy commissioned two state-of-the-art stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at the Naval Base in Visakhapatnam on Monday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the commissioning ceremony, which marked the first time that two major surface warships, built at separate shipyards, have been inducted simultaneously.

Both frigates belong to the Navy's Project 17A (Shivalik-class upgrade) and are equipped with advanced design features, stealth technology, weapons, and sensor systems. Their induction into the Eastern Fleet significantly enhances India's capability to safeguard maritime interests across the Indian Ocean Region.

Advanced Features and Capabilities

Udaygiri and Himgiri represent a generational leap in India's naval fleet. Built with modular construction technology, they incorporate enhanced stealth characteristics, a reduced radar cross-section, and streamlined hull designs. With a displacement of around 6,700 tons, Project 17A frigates are about five percent larger than their Shivalik-class predecessors.

Their weapons package includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm main gun, and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems, enabling them to conduct a full spectrum of blue-water maritime operations.

INS Udaygiri: The second stealth frigate under Project 17A, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, stands out for being the fastest vessel of its class to be delivered after launch, owing to advanced modular construction techniques.

INS Himgiri: The first P17A frigate built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, further showcases India's shipbuilding capabilities at multiple shipyards.

Highlighting the Navy's growing strength, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi referred to Operation Sindoor, where swift deployment of Indian naval units compelled the Pakistan Navy into a defensive position.

"In this era of uncertainties and competition, the Navy's ability to deliver overwhelming force at sea is a credible deterrent. During Operation Sindoor, our aggressive posturing held the Pakistan Navy captive and forced them to request an end to kinetic actions," Admiral Tripathi said, as reported by ANI.

The commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri underlines India's focus on expanding its naval footprint and strengthening deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.