INS Udaygiri and INS Himagiri marks the first occasion when two frontline surface combatants constructed at two different shipyards were commissioned simultaneously.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, commissioned two multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam that boast of significant improvement in design and weapons and are seen as a significant addition to the maritime security mechanism.
INS Udaygiri and INS Himagiri come from the Indian Navy's latest state-of-the-art Project 17A and the commissioning marks the first occasion when two frontline surface combatants constructed at two different shipyards were commissioned simultaneously.
This development underscores the growing maritime importance of India's eastern seaboard.
INS Udaygiri happens to be the 100th ship designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau, marking a milestone in five decades of indigenous warship design.
The two are follow-on ships of the Project 17 (Shivalik) class frigates, and both the vessels incorporate significant improvements in design, stealth, weapon and sensor systems, capable of executing a full spectrum of maritime missions in 'blue water' conditions, according to defence ministry officials.
INS Udaygiri is the second ship from Project 17A stealth frigates and was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai.
INS Himgiri is the first of P17A ships to be constructed by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata. Both frigates represent a generational leap over earlier designs.
INS Udaygiri also holds the distinction of being the fastest ship of her class to be delivered post-launch, a result of the modular construction methodology adopted by Indian shipyards.
Displacing about 6,700 tons, the P17A class frigates are roughly five per cent larger than their predecessor Shivalik-class frigates, incorporating a sleeker form with a reduced radar cross section.
They also feature a suite of advanced weapons and sensors developed by Indian manufacturers.
The weapons suite of these frigates includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium range surface-to-air missiles, 76 mm MR Gun and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems.
Both ships are the result of an industrial ecosystem spanning over 200 MSMEs, supporting approximately 4,000 direct jobs and more than 10,000 indirect jobs.
With 75 percent indigenous content, the frigates align with the government's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
The commissioning of the INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri will augment the Indian Navy's combat readiness and reaffirm India's resolve to achieve self-reliance in warship design and construction.
Upon commissioning, the two frigates will join the Eastern Fleet, strengthening India's ability to safeguard its maritime interests across the Indian Ocean Region, the defence ministry stated.