Rajnath Singh Commissions Homegrown Stealth Frigate INS Mahendragiri in Visakhapatnam

India's naval strength received a major boost on Saturday as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally commissioned INS Mahendragiri, an indigenously developed stealth frigate, into the Indian Navy at the Visakhapatnam dockyard. The vessel is the sixth warship built under the Project 17A Nilgiri-class programme. The commissioning ceremony also included a ceremonial Guard of Honour for the Defence Minister.

Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the frigate represents endurance, strength, and determination. It is the first Indian Navy ship to carry the name, marking a new chapter in the country's maritime legacy. INS Mahendragiri was designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. As the sixth Project 17A stealth frigate, it showcases India's advancing capabilities in designing and building sophisticated naval platforms domestically.

Featuring more than 75% indigenous content, the warship reflects the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Its construction involved numerous Indian companies, including several Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to the country's defence manufacturing ecosystem while generating employment opportunities.

The frigate is equipped with advanced indigenous weapons, sensors, and electronic warfare systems, enabling it to perform a wide range of missions. These include anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, as well as maritime security patrols, search and rescue operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions, and extended deployments across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.

The induction of INS Mahendragiri marks another important achievement in the Project 17A programme, which aims to modernize the Indian Navy with next-generation stealth frigates. As more ships from the class enter service, they are expected to significantly enhance India's maritime defence capabilities and strengthen the country's position as a leading indigenous warship-building nation. Rajnath Singh arrived in Visakhapatnam on Friday evening, where he was welcomed by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan ahead of the commissioning ceremony.

Before the event, the Defence Minister described the induction of INS Mahendragiri as a landmark occasion for both the nation and the Navy. In a post on X, he said the indigenous stealth frigate embodies India's growing self-reliance in defence production and highlights the capabilities of the country's domestic defence industry and MSMEs. Singh also emphasized that the warship is fully prepared to protect India's maritime interests and will play a vital role in enhancing security and stability across the Indo-Pacific region.