Indian Navy to Commission Stealth Frigates Udaygiri and Himgiri in Visakhapatnam

Swift Summary

• the Indian Navy will commission two Project 17A stealth frigates, Udaygiri and Himgiri, on August 27, 2025, at Naval Base Visakhapatnam.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will preside over the historic event – the first simultaneous commissioning of two frontline warships built at different shipyards.
• Udaygiri was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai, while Himgiri was built by Garden Reach shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.
• Both vessels are follow-on variants of Shivalik-class frigates featuring advanced stealth capabilities, modern weaponry and sensors for blue-water operations.
• The milestone marks notable achievements:

– Modular construction techniques enabled swift delivery of ships such as Udaygiri.
– Indigenous contributions include nearly 75% local content supported by MSMEs under India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission.

• Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), Udaygiri is notably the WDB’s 100th vessel designed over five decades of indigenous expertise.
• Both ships feature Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion systems and Integrated Platform Management Systems with advanced Indian-made weapons/sensors.
• These warships restore heritage names previously used in earlier fleet iterations and will join India’s Eastern Fleet to augment operational presence in the Indian ocean Region.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The simultaneous commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri represents a landmark moment for India’s defence manufacturing sector and maritime strategy. it demonstrates how inter-yard collaboration alongside modular design principles can enhance shipbuilding efficiency without compromising quality. Moreover, achieving nearly three-fourths indigenization reflects steady progress toward reducing dependency on foreign defense technology-a key pillar under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

From a strategic perspective, these state-of-the-art frigates considerably strengthen India’s naval versatility within blue-water domains like the Indian ocean Region-a critical space for trade routes and geopolitical influence. Their deployment marks a reaffirmation of India’s maritime resolve against emerging challenges in regional waters.

This achievement also underscores growth within linked industries (e.g., MSMEs contributing indigenous components), which advances domestic economic goals while fulfilling defense priorities. As India continues building military competency rooted heavily in self-reliance, careful assessment into sustaining these gains long-term remains essential.

Read more: The Hindu