Latest news with #Mahendragiri
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Stealth frigate Mahendragiri expected to be delivered by February
The final ship of Project 17A stealth frigate Mahendragiri, equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and cutting-edge sensors and platform management systems, is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy by February 2026, according to officials. The first ship of the Project P17A (Nilgiri Class) stealth frigates -- Nilgiri -- was commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January. The second warship, Udaygiri, being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), was delivered to the navy on July 1. These multi-mission frigates are capable of operating in "a 'Blue Water' environment dealing with both conventional and non-conventional threats" in the area of India's maritime interests, the defence ministry has said. The ministry on Monday shared a video on Mahendragiri being built at MDL in Mumbai. Live Events "Mahendragiri, the 7th and most advanced Project 17A Frigate (Nilgiri Class) to be delivered in Feb 2026, showcases India's naval legacy and future. A follow-on of the Shivalik-class, it features improved stealth, cutting-edge weapons, sensors & platform management systems - a true symbol of #AatmanirbharBharat," it said in a post on X along with the video. The advanced ship stands as a symbol of India's determination to "embrace its rich naval heritage," the ministry said. The warship will be a "force multiplier" for the Indian Navy, said Additional General Manager, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Jay Varghese, in the recorded video. Project 17A is a follow-on to the Shivalik class (Project 17) frigates active in service. Among the seven frigates, four will be delivered by MDL, Mumbai and the remaining by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. On Mahendragiri, Varghese said, "We are expecting it to be delivered to the Indian Navy by February 2026." "As with any warship building project, a lot of ancillary industry develops around a ship. We are taking equipment from so many OEMs, and all these are integrated into the ship. So, each of these OEMs in its own has been a partner with the MDL, and they have developed under 'Atmanirbharta', and indegenisation content has also improved, leading to 'Atmanirbharta'," he added. This class of ships have more than 75 per cent of indigenous content, the MDL official said. "The stealth features are varied. Even the shape of the ship contributes to the stealth feature," he said. The video also gave a glimpse of the second warship being built at MDL. "It's a structure that gives a smaller radar profile. For the radar profile, we are having IRSS (infra red suppression system) where the exhaust of all the engines are cooled. IRSS reduces the thermal signature, the radar profile is reduced, the noise is reduced. So, it's a combination of many, many factors, which gives the ship a profile which may be something like a fishing boat and not a frigate of this size," he added. Udaygiri, the second among the seven P17A frigates, was delivered in a record time of 37 months from the date of launch, officials had earlier said. The hull of a P17A ship is geo-symmetrically larger by 4.54 per cent as compared to a P17. Also, these ships are fitted with an advanced weapon and sensors suite with enhanced "sleek and stealthy" features compared to the P17 class, the ministry has said. The weapon suite comprises a supersonic surface-to-surface missile system and a medium-range surface-to-air missile system. Defence ministry officials termed Udaygiri a modern avatar of its predecessor, the erstwhile INS Udaygiri, which was a steam ship decommissioned on August 24, 2007, after rendering 31 years of service. The ministry has said the delivery of Udaygiri showcases the nation's ship design, ship construction and engineering prowess enabled by a strong industrial ecosystem supported by over 200 MSMEs. Udaygiri is the 100th ship designed and delivered by the Warship Design Bureau, it said.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Navy to sharpen edge with induction of six stealth frigates by September 2026
The Indian Navy will sharpen its edge in the Indian Ocean region with the induction of six locally made warships in around a year, a step towards strengthening its hold on the vast maritime expanse where China is steadily boosting its influence, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday. Mahendragiri, a P-17A stealth frigate, is being built at MDL in Mumbai. (HT Photo/Rahul Singh) The Project 17A stealth frigates that the navy will be commissioning into service by August-September 2026 are Udaygiri, Taragiri, Mahendragiri, Himgiri, Dunagiri and Vindhyagiri --- platforms that will showcase the country's warship building prowess, have an indigenous content of 75% and come with modern weapons, sensors and systems to dominate the sea battlespace, the officials said. The navy inducted the first P-17A warship INS Nilgiri in January and is expected to commission Udaygiri in August. The ₹45,000-crore P-17A is a follow-on of the Shivalik-class (P-17) stealth frigates and represents a significant upgrade over the previous warships. Taragiri and Mahendragiri are being built at Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), and Himgiri, Dunagiri and Vindhyagiri are in different stages of construction at Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited. 'There were some teething troubles when P-17A began…the first ship. The project has moved ahead smoothly thereafter. Taragiri and Mahendragiri will be delivered to the navy after the completion of necessary trials in October 2025 and February 2026,' said Jay Varghese, the P-17A in-charge at MDL. The navy usually commissions a warship one or two months after its delivery. MDL delivered Udaygiri to the navy on July 1. The weapons on the P-17A warships include BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and the medium range surface-to-air missile system. Himgiri, Dunagiri and Vindhyagiri are expected to be delivered to the navy in July-end, early next year and August 2026, people aware of the matter said. On January 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation three locally built combat platforms, including INS Nilgiri. INS Surat, a destroyer; and Vaghsheer, the sixth and final Kalvari-class submarine --- also built at the MDL --- were commissioned on the same day. At the rare tri-commissioning, Modi said it was a significant step towards empowering the Indian Navy of the 21st century. The development also put the spotlight on the navy's fast-paced indigenisation and how it is working on becoming fully self-reliant by 2047 when India celebrates 100 years of independence --- around 60 warships are under construction at various Indian shipyards. The P-17A stealth frigates have a displacement of 6,670 tonnes, are 149 metres long, can reach a top speed of 28 knots and carry 225 personnel. The new platforms will boost the navy's operational capabilities and combat readiness in the Indian Ocean region, a strategic maritime expanse where the challenges include China's carefully calculated power play for influence and defending the rules-based international order. China is seeking to expand its maritime footprint in the region by setting up military bases, pushing countries to advance its maritime claims and forcing strategic concessions from vulnerable states. The Indian Navy keeps a close watch on extra-regional activity in the region, especially the presence of Chinese vessels.
New Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Indigenous frigate INS Mahendragiri to join Indian Navy in early 2026
MUMBAI: India's push towards indigenising the production of capital warships—large, heavily armed vessels—has gained momentum, with all Project 17A Nilgiri-class stealth frigates progressing on schedule. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Additional General Manager Jay Varghese told The New Indian Express on Tuesday that the last of the class, Mahendragiri, will be delivered to the Indian Navy by February 2026. 'We have the Mahendragiri ship, which is the fourth and final vessel of the P-17 Alpha class of stealth ships being built at Mazagon Dock. This class of ships will certainly add significant strength to the Indian Navy, as they are the most modern and come equipped with integrated surface-to-surface, surface-to-air, and underwater capabilities,' Varghese said. A total of seven frigates are being constructed under Project 17A (Nilgiri class). The vessel will be commissioned as Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mahendragiri, and is being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai. Outlining the ship's combat systems, Varghese said, 'Equipped with advanced air defence systems, BrahMos and Barak missiles, torpedoes, rocket launchers, and AK-630 guns, it can strike air, surface, and underwater targets. An integral helicopter will enhance its capabilities.' Of the seven frigates, INS Nilgiri was commissioned into the Navy in January by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. INS Nilgiri is the lead ship of the class and was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL). Project 17A frigates are guided missile platforms, each 149 metres in length with a displacement of around 6,670 tonnes and a top speed of 28 knots. The Indian Navy had placed orders for seven such vessels—four with MDL and three with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). The remaining five ships under Project 17A are at various stages of construction at MDL, Mumbai and GRSE, Kolkata. All are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026. Udaygiri was delivered on 1 July. Commissioning typically takes place one to two months after delivery. The indigenous content in these warships is now around 75 percent, with the remaining 25 percent comprising imported components including gas turbines (from GE, US), multi-function surveillance and guidance radar (Israel), and the Barak surface-to-air missile system (jointly developed by India and Israel). The New Indian Express had earlier reported that these multi-mission frigates are designed for operations in a blue-water environment, capable of addressing both conventional and asymmetric threats in areas critical to India's maritime interests. Udaygiri is named after its predecessor, the erstwhile INS Udaygiri, a steam-powered vessel that was decommissioned on 24 August 2007 after 31 years of service. Project 17A ships are fitted with enhanced stealth features and state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, representing a significant upgrade from the preceding P17 class. The project also showcases the Indian Navy's improved in-house design capabilities through its Warship Design Bureau. The ships are built using 'integrated construction' methods, which involve extensive outfitting during block assembly to reduce build times. Udaygiri was delivered in a record 37 months from its launch. These warships feature a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system comprising both diesel engines and gas turbines, with controllable pitch propellers on each shaft. The vessels are also equipped with a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). Their weapon suite includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm main gun, and a mix of 30 mm and 12.7 mm rapid-fire close-in weapon systems.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Indian Navy to sharpen edge in Indian Ocean region with six stealth frigates
MUMBAI: The Indian Navy will sharpen its edge in the Indian Ocean region with the induction of six locally made warships in around a year, a step towards strengthening its hold on the vast maritime expanse where China is steadily boosting its influence, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday. Mahendragiri, a P-17A stealth frigate, is being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai. (HT Photo/Rahul Singh) The Project 17A stealth frigates that the navy will commission into service by August-September 2026 are Udaygiri, Taragiri, Mahendragiri, Himgiri, Dunagiri and Vindhyagiri --- platforms that will showcase the country's warship building prowess, have an indigenous content of 75% and come with modern weapons, sensors and systems to dominate the sea battlespace, the officials said. The navy inducted the first P-17A warship INS Nilgiri in January and is expected to commission Udaygiri in August. The ₹45,000-crore P-17A is a follow-on of the Shivalik-class (P-17) stealth frigates and represents a significant upgrade over the previous warships. Taragiri and Mahendragiri are being built at Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), and Himgiri, Dunagiri and Vindhyagiri are in different stages of construction at Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited. 'There were some teething troubles when P-17A began… the first ship. The project has moved ahead smoothly thereafter. Taragiri and Mahendragiri will be delivered to the navy after the completion of necessary trials in October 2025 and February 2026,' said Jay Varghese, the P-17A in-charge at MDL. The navy usually commissions a warship one or two months after its delivery. MDL delivered Udaygiri to the navy on July 1. The weapons on the P-17A warships include BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and the medium-range surface-to-air missile system. Himgiri, Dunagiri and Vindhyagiri are expected to be delivered to the navy in July-end, early next year and August 2026, people aware of the matter said. On January 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation three locally built combat platforms, including INS Nilgiri. INS Surat, a destroyer, and Vaghsheer, the sixth and final Kalvari-class submarine -- also built at the MDL -- were commissioned on the same day. At the rare tri-commissioning, Modi said it was a significant step towards empowering the Indian Navy of the 21st century. The development also put the spotlight on the navy's fast-paced indigenisation and how it is working on becoming fully self-reliant by 2047, when India celebrates 100 years of independence --- around 60 warships are under construction at various Indian shipyards. The P-17A stealth frigates have a displacement of 6,670 tonnes, are 149 metres long, can reach a top speed of 28 knots and carry 225 personnel. The new platforms will boost the navy's operational capabilities and combat readiness in the Indian Ocean region, a strategic maritime expanse where the challenges include China's carefully calculated power play for influence and defending the rules-based international order. China is seeking to expand its maritime footprint in the region by setting up military bases, pushing countries to advance its maritime claims and forcing strategic concessions from vulnerable states. The Indian Navy keeps a close watch on extra-regional activity in the region, especially the presence of Chinese vessels.
