NEW DELHI: In a historic moment, Indian Navy commissioned two cutting-edge stealth frigates. INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, on Tuesday at the naval base in Visakhapatnam.The ceremony was presided over by defence minister Rajnath Singh, marking the first time that two frontline warships constructed at different shipyards have entered service together.
Twin induction a first in Navy’s history
The commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri is a major boost to the Navy’s combat capability. Both are part of the advanced Project 17A class, the follow-on to the Shivalik class frigates, and are designed for multi-mission roles in Blue Water operations. They bring enhanced stealth features, improved weapons and sensors, and modern propulsion systems.What makes this event historic is the fact that the ships were constructed at two different shipyards: Udaygiri by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, and Himgiri by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. This synergy between major defence shipyards highlights India’s growing shipbuilding capabilities.Adding to the milestone, Udaygiri is the 100th ship designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB). Both ships were developed in-house, showcasing decades of experience in indigenous warship design.
Legacy names, modern capabilities
Continuing the Navy’s tradition of reviving names of distinguished predecessors, the new frigates are named after INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34), which served the nation for over three decades before being decommissioned. “The commissioning of the new Udaygiri and Himgiri honours the legacy of their forebearers while ushering in a new era of capability,” a senior naval official said.The frigates feature Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion systems, an Integrated Platform Management System, and an array of advanced weapons and sensors, most of which have been developed by Indian manufacturers. With about 75 per cent indigenous content, these warships are a major step forward in the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. Hundreds of domestic MSMEs have contributed to their construction, which has about 75 per cent indigenous content.Udaygiri also stands out as the fastest ship in her class to be delivered post-launch, thanks to modular construction techniques adopted by Indian shipyards.
Strengthening maritime dominance
Once operational, both frigates will join the Eastern Fleet, enhancing India’s maritime security posture in the Indian Ocean Region.The ships can take on a range of missions, including surface combat, anti-submarine operations, electronic warfare and surveillance, making them vital for protecting India’s sea lanes and maritime interests. Go to Source
