INS Mahendragiri (Space and Defence Sectors)
INS Mahendragiri (Space and Defence Sectors)
Why In News:
The Indian Navy will commission INS Mahendragiri on 11 July 2026 at Visakhapatnam, under the Eastern Naval Command.
It is the sixth ship of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigates, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, and designed by the Navy's own Warship Design Bureau (WDB).
Source: The Indian Express, Page 8, 7 July 2026 - 'Mahendragiri, an indigenous stealth frigate, to be commissioned on July 11'; The Hindu, Page 14, 7 July 2026 - 'Stealth frigate Mahendragiri set to join Indian Navy'
Key Features
Armed with an advanced weapons and sensors, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, Barak-8 surface-to-air missile systems, sophisticated electronic warfare capability and integrated combat management systems.
Powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, enabling high-speed operations with extended endurance.
Features enhanced stealth characteristics, reduced radar signature and a high degree of automation compared to the earlier Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates.
Designed for anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, as well as maritime security, power projection, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and search and rescue missions.
Project 17A Programme
Project 17A comprises seven advanced stealth guided-missile frigates, built jointly by MDL Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
The earlier five frigates under Project 17A are: INS Nilgiri (lead ship), INS Himgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Dunagiri and INS Taragiri.
Compared with the Shivalik-class ships (INS Shivalik, INS Satpura, INS Sahyadri), the Nilgiri-class offers greater stealth, automation and modern sensor suites.
The commissioning advances India’s goal of a 200-ship navy by 2035, reinforcing ‘Make in India’ naval indigenisation under DAP 2020.
Key Facts for Prelims
Warship Design Bureau (WDB) is the Indian Navy's in-house warship design organisation.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) is a Mumbai-based Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the Ministry of Defence.