The Indian Navy is poised to significantly enhance its capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with the induction of six indigenously built stealth frigates under Project 17A within the next year. The move is part of India’s strategic effort to counter China’s expanding maritime footprint and assert greater control over vital sea lanes.
The new warships – Udaygiri, Taragiri, Mahendragiri, Himgiri, Dunagiri, and Vindhyagiri – will join the fleet by August-September 2026. They are being constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. The ships boast 75% indigenous content and are equipped with state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, and stealth technology.
Project 17A is a ₹45,000-crore program and a follow-up to the earlier Shivalik-class frigates. The first ship under this project, INS Nilgiri, was commissioned in January, and Udaygiri is expected to follow in August. MDL delivered Udaygiri to the Navy on July 1. Taragiri and Mahendragiri will complete trials by October 2025 and February 2026 respectively, with commissioning expected shortly after.
Each frigate will be armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and a medium-range surface-to-air missile system. The ships are 149 metres long, displace 6,670 tonnes, and can achieve speeds of up to 28 knots while carrying 225 personnel.
Jay Varghese, who oversees the P-17A program at MDL, noted that initial technical challenges with the first ship were overcome, allowing the remaining vessels to proceed smoothly.
The Navy is simultaneously advancing its broader indigenisation agenda, with 60 warships under construction across Indian shipyards. On January 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a rare tri-commissioning event, inducting INS Nilgiri, destroyer INS Surat, and submarine Vaghsheer.
The Indian Navy aims to be fully self-reliant by 2047, marking the centenary of India’s independence. The P-17A class warships are a significant leap forward in that direction, bolstering India’s readiness to respond to strategic threats and ensuring maritime security in a region witnessing rising geopolitical competition.
