It was for the first time that two frontline surface combatants indigenously constructed by two different shipyards – Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai (INS Udaygiri) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata (INS Himgiri) – were commissioned simultaneously.
In his address, Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that these warships will not only strengthen the security system and safeguard maritime interests, but will also assist in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. He stated that the commissioning bolsters India’s policy of Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security & Growth for All in the Region).
“These frigates, which will enhance the capability of the Indian Navy, send a message that India is fully capable of protecting its maritime borders and is ready to respond immediately to any situation,” he added.
Aatmanirbhar Navy
The defence minister described the commissioning as a giant stride towards the realisation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and a proof of the government’s vision and commitment.
“INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are the shining examples of the Government’s firm resolve towards self-reliance, symbols of a transformative movement, and testament to the vision that the nation will touch greater heights and obtain the goal of self-reliance with concerted efforts of all stakeholders,” he said, commending the seamless collaboration between MDL and GRSE in constructing and delivering the two powerful warships.
These frigates, which will enhance the capability of the Indian Navy, send a message that India is fully capable of protecting its maritime borders and is ready to respond immediately to any situation: Rajnath Singh
Blue Water Navy
The multi-mission frigates are crucial operational enablers that will enhance the Navy’s ability to safeguard national interests across the full spectrum of maritime missions. They are equipped with next-generation weapons, sensors and integrated platform management systems, are ready to perform anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, sea-control, and humanitarian operations.
Rajnath Singh asserted that the commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri not only strengthens the Navy’s combat potential but reinforces its role as a “First Responder” and “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Ever-ready Navy
Appreciating the prompt planning and execution of the Indian Navy during Operation Sindoor, Rajnath Singh stated that “the adversary realises the strength and capability of our Navy and what it can do”. He termed the seamless synergy among the three Services and other security agencies and departments during the operation as a proof that the nation stands united in every challenge and tackles it effectively.
“India does not believe in aggressive expansionism. We never attack any country or provoke anyone. But this does not mean we bow before those who mean to harm us. When our security is threatened, we know how to give a befitting reply. Innocent civilians were killed in Pahalgam. We gave an effective, measured, and precise response through Operation Sindoor. We pledged to destroy terrorist hideouts and successfully achieved our goals. I want to reiterate that the operation is not over, it is merely a pause.” added the defence minister.
The multi-mission frigates are crucial operational enablers that will enhance the Navy’s ability to safeguard national interests across the full spectrum of maritime missions. They are equipped with next-generation weapons, sensors and integrated platform management systems, are ready to perform anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, sea-control, and humanitarian operations
Future-ready Navy
On the rapidly-evolving nature of warfare, Rajnath Singh stated that new technologies, strategies, and equipment are being witnessed in every conflict, and it has become necessary to not only keep updating oneself, but also explore the unexplored and achieve the unexpected.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi described the double-commissioning as a clear testimony to the continued progress and dynamic expansion of India’s maritime power. He also highlighted the Indian Navy’s ability to deliver overwhelming force from the sea in the present age of uncertainties and competition, terming it as a credible deterrence against the nation’s enemies. “We demonstrated this brilliantly during Operation Sindoor when swift deployment and aggressive posturing of our units, effectively constrained the Pakistan Navy, and forced them to request a cease of kinetic actions,” he said.
Regional Naval Powers
China and Pakistan, two arch foes of India in the region, have been steadily expanding their maritime capabilities, reshaping the naval balance in the IOR. The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s estimated 370 warships include more than 50 submarines, 40 destroyers, 46 frigates and over 70 corvettes, supported by a rapidly growing aircraft carrier fleet.
Pakistan’s Navy, though far smaller in comparison, is undergoing a significant modernisation drive with Chinese support. The Pakistan Navy fields around 114 vessels, including 11 submarines (with eight new Hangor-class submarines on order from China), 10 frigates and 17 missile boats, and is set to induct advanced Type 054A/P frigates and modern corvettes supplied by Beijing. This deepening naval partnership not only enhances Pakistan’s maritime strike capability but also integrates it more closely with China’s long-term strategy to secure sea lanes and extend influence across the Indian Ocean.
INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri follow INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of the successor class to Project 17 (Shivalik class). They incorporate improved stealth features, reduced radar signatures, advanced surveillance radars and electronic warfare suites, supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and rapid-fire gun systems. Both ships feature Combined Diesel or Gas propulsion plants and a state-of-the-art Integrated
The commissioning of INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri is part of the Indian Navy’s broader modernisation drive, which also includes the induction of aircraft carriers, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft. The aim is to maintain a balanced force structure capable of addressing both conventional threats and constabulary roles, such as anti-smuggling, counter-piracy and environmental protection.
By enhancing its operational reach, the Indian Navy contributes to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. A capable and visible naval presence deters aggression, reassures partners and helps enforce international maritime norms. The addition of these frigates sends a strong message about India’s enduring commitment to safeguarding the maritime commons.
INS Udaygiri & INS Himgiri
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the two missiles represent a generational leap over earlier designs. Displacing about 6,700 tons, the P-17A frigates are roughly five per cent larger than their predecessor Shivalik-class frigates and yet incorporate a sleeker form, with a reduced radar cross-section.
INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri follow INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of the successor class to Project 17 (Shivalik class). They incorporate improved stealth features, reduced radar signatures, advanced surveillance radars and electronic warfare suites, supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and rapid-fire gun systems. Both ships feature Combined Diesel or Gas propulsion plants and a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System, enabling higher speeds and improved fuel efficiency.
These are the 100th and 101st warships designed in-house by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) of the Indian Navy, and built in India, reflecting the Navy’s continuous effort to enhance indigenous content and self-reliance. High indigenous content — exceeding 75% — has been achieved through the participation of numerous MSMEs and the procurement of major weapons and sensors from Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers.
INS Udaygiri’s construction time was the shortest of any frontline warship, being delivered in just 37 months, from the date of launch. In a first for Indian frontline warships, instead of the entire hull being built as one piece, thereby occupying drydock space, it was built in modules and then integrated. This method speeds up construction dramatically and allows shipyards to outsource the construction of individual pieces
They are powered by Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants using diesel engines and gas turbines that drive controllable-pitch propellers and are managed through an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). The weapon suite includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm MR Gun, and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems, and anti-submarine or underwater weapon systems, the MoD said in a statement.
INS Udaygiri’s construction time was the shortest of any frontline warship, being delivered in just 37 months, from the date of launch. In a first for Indian frontline warships, instead of the entire hull being built as one piece, thereby occupying drydock space, it was built in modules and then integrated. This method speeds up construction dramatically and allows shipyards to outsource the construction of individual pieces.
With INS Nilgiri, the lead P17A of the class entering service in January 2025, and her two sister ships INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri entering service now, it’s a landmark bonanza for the Navy – three warships of a similar type entering service the same year and that too within months of each other.
The ships can have eight BrahMos on board, with a provision for eight more, which may happen as an after-fit. Both ships can carry 16 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM), but have provisions for more with some modifications, which are likely to be made. The two vessels are also the quietest frontline warships ever built by India, which was a major demand by the Navy, since they are meant for anti-submarine operations too.
INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri sport flush decks with minimal protrusions, dramatically increasing their stealth features and making them harder to spot. Both stealth frigates sport an Integrated Indian Combat Management System which interlinks systems from different countries – Israeli primary radar, Spanish air search radar, Indo-Russian anti-ship missiles, Indo-Israeli air defence systems, Russian close-in-weapon systems, Italian deck guns and American helicopters, among others.
Just last week, the Indian Navy issued a Request for Information to procure 76 Naval Utility Helicopters (NUHs). Of these, 51 will be inducted by the Navy, while 25 are planned for the Indian Coast Guard. The acquisition will be made under the Buy and Make (Indian) category and is aimed at strengthening maritime search and rescue, coastal defence operations, and disaster relief capabilities of the Indian Navy in every sphere
INS Udaygiri’s keel was laid on May 07, 2019 and the ship was launched on May 17, 2022. INS Himgiri’s keel was laid on November 10, 2018 and the ship was launched on December 14, 2020. Both ships underwent a comprehensive schedule of trials in harbour and at sea prior delivery to the Indian Navy on July 1, 2025 and July 31, 2025 respectively. The balance four ships of the Class are at various stages of construction at MDL and GRSE and would be delivered to the Indian Navy by mid-2026.
The simultaneous induction of two major combatants highlights the Navy’s growing operational focus on the Eastern Seaboard. Both frigates will join the Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Naval Command, significantly enhancing India’s ability to respond rapidly to maritime contingencies and to secure sea lanes in the Bay of Bengal and beyond.
The Indian Navy, which is usually described as a builders’ navy, has been expanding its arsenal rapidly. Just last month, in a significant step toward strengthening India’s self-reliance in defence technology, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over six strategically important, indigenously developed systems to the Indian Navy.
All these six products have been indigenously conceptualised, designed, and developed by DRDO scientists to enhance the Navy’s capability in radiation detection, environmental monitoring, and nuclear contamination control across various terrains – land, air, and underwater. These products comprise of, namely Gamma Radiation Aerial Surveillance System (GRASS), Environmental Surveillance Vehicle (ESV), Vehicle Radiological Contamination Monitoring System (VRCMS), Underwater Gamma Radiation Monitoring System (UGRMS), Dirt Extractor and Cross Contamination Monitor (DECCOM) and Organ Radioactivity Detection System (ORDS),” DRDO said in a post on X.
Further, just last week, the Indian Navy issued a Request for Information (RFI) to procure 76 Naval Utility Helicopters (NUHs). Of these, 51 will be inducted by the Navy, while 25 are planned for the Indian Coast Guard. The acquisition will be made under the Buy and Make (Indian) category and is aimed at strengthening maritime search and rescue, coastal defence operations, and disaster relief.
-The writer is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on international and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily carry the views of Raksha Anirveda
