Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) marked a key milestone today with the delivery of Udaygiri, the second Project 17A (P17A) stealth frigate, to the Indian Navy. The official handover ceremony took place at the MDL shipyard in Mumbai, where Capt. Jagmohan, Chairman and Managing Director of MDL, signed the acceptance document (D448) with Rear Admiral Ravnish Seth, VSM, Chief Staff Officer (Technical) at the Eastern Naval Command. The event was attended by senior naval and shipyard officials.
Built under India’s flagship Make in India initiative, Udaygiri represents a significant advancement in indigenous warship construction. It is part of the ₹60,000 crore P17A project, which comprises seven stealth frigates being constructed by MDL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). These warships are designed to enhance the Indian Navy’s combat readiness with modern sensors, stealth features, and weaponry.
While the delivery has been praised as a major boost to India’s naval self-reliance, some defense analysts have raised questions over the ship’s armament, particularly the decision to equip it with an older 76 mm turret. Industry experts suggest the move reflects a conscious balance between cost-effectiveness and operational reliability, with the Navy favoring proven systems backed by extensive in-service experience.
The delivery of Udaygiri comes at a time when India is intensifying its naval expansion to counter increasing Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean. With 64 vessels currently under construction and a long-term goal of a 200-ship fleet by 2050, India is transitioning from a buyer’s navy to a builder’s navy. The Project 17A series is central to this transformation, reflecting India’s ability to produce advanced combat ships domestically.
The successful delivery of Udaygiri is expected to accelerate the timeline for the commissioning of the remaining P17A frigates, further strengthening India’s maritime position in the Indo-Pacific region and bolstering the Navy’s efforts to safeguard national interests across an increasingly contested maritime domain.
