Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, INS Mahendragiri is the first naval vessel to carry this name. It is the sixth ship in the Nilgiri-class under Project 17A, a series of advanced stealth frigates designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai.
The frigate represents a major leap in indigenous warship construction, incorporating more than 75 percent indigenous content. Officials stated that the vessel reflects the government’s Self-Reliant India initiative and highlights the strengthening capabilities of India’s defence industrial ecosystem, including significant contributions from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
INS Mahendragiri is equipped with a modern suite of weapons and sensors, including surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems, advanced electronic warfare systems, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and an integrated combat management system. These systems collectively enhance its multi-dimensional combat effectiveness.
Built as a multi-role frontline platform, the frigate is capable of executing anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare operations. It is also designed to support maritime security missions, power projection, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, search and rescue missions, and sustained deployments across the Indian Ocean region.
The vessel is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas propulsion system, enabling both high-speed manoeuvres and extended endurance operations across diverse maritime mission profiles. Its stealth design features advanced automation, improved survivability, and a significantly reduced radar cross-section, positioning it among the most sophisticated warships constructed in India to date.
The Indian Navy stated that the induction of INS Mahendragiri is expected to significantly enhance operational readiness and reinforce India’s position as a leading indigenous warship-building nation. The frigate forms a crucial part of the Navy’s long-term capability expansion strategy aimed at securing maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
INS Nilgiri, the lead vessel of the Project 17A class, was commissioned into service on January 15, 2025. It was followed by INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri on August 26, 2025. Subsequently, INS Taragiri was commissioned on April 3 at Visakhapatnam, further strengthening India’s indigenous naval combat fleet with advanced weapon systems, including supersonic missile capability.
As successive Project 17A frigates enter active service, they are expected to play a decisive role in enhancing India’s maritime security architecture and sustaining stability across critical sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific.
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