On Thursday (April 30), the sixth vessel of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) was handed over at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL) in Mumbai.

The delivery marks a "significant milestone" in achieving self-reliance in warship design and construction, the officials said.

'Versatile multi-mission platforms'

"Project 17A frigates are versatile multi-mission platforms designed to address current and emerging challenges in the maritime domain. This state-of-the-art frigate reflects a quantum leap in naval design, stealth, firepower, automation, and survivability, and stands as an admirable symbol of Aatmanirbharta in warship building," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

About 'Mahendragiri'

♦ The indigenous stealth frigate represents a generational leap in stealth, survivability, and combat capability compared to the earlier Shivalik-class (P17) frigates

♦ Equipped with a comprehensive weapons system covering all three warfare dimensions - anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare systems, including supersonic missiles.

♦ Powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas propulsion plant, combining a diesel engine and a gas turbine

♦ Features a state-of-the-art IPMS that enables high levels of automation, improving operational efficiency

♦ Built with approximately 75 per cent indigenous content, involving over 200 MSMEs at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited

Mahendragiri (Yard 12654) is the fourth ship of this class built at MDSL.

The Acceptance Document was signed by Captain Jagmohan (Retd.), chairman and managing director, MDSL, and Rear Admiral Gautam Marwaha, VSM, Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Eastern Naval Command, in the presence of MDSL directors and senior Indian Navy officers at the organisation, a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release said.

Jagmohan said that Mahendragiri is a state-of-the-art warship equipped with advanced combat capabilities and stands as a strong symbol of India's indigenous defence manufacturing strength. He also expressed confidence that the vessel will serve the nation with distinction while upholding a legacy of innovation, resilience, and self-reliance, the release added.

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Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team (Mumbai), P17A frigates reflect a "generational leap" in indigenous ship design, stealth, survivability, and combat capability.

Driven by the philosophy of integrated construction, the ship was built and delivered within the envisaged timelines, the officials said.

P17A ships are fitted with an advanced weapon and sensor suite as compared to the P17 (Shivalik-class), they said.

"These ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants, comprising a diesel engine and a gas turbine that drive a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft, and a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). The potent weapon and sensor suite comprises anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare systems," the statement said.

Mahendragiri sixth P17A ship given to Navy

Mahendragiri is the sixth P17A ship to be delivered to the Navy in the span of less than 17 months from the delivery of the first P17A frigate (Nilgiri) by MDSL on December 20, 2024.

Delivery of Mahendragiri showcases the design, shipbuilding, and engineering prowess of the nation, and reflects the Navy's unrelenting focus on "Aatmanirbharta" in both ship design and shipbuilding, the officials said.

With an indigenous content of 75 per cent, the project has involved over 200 MSMEs at MDSL and has enabled employment generation of approximately 4,000 personnel directly and more than 10,000 personnel indirectly, it said.

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Indigenous stealth frigate Taragiri, the fourth ship of the Nilgiri class, endowed with the cutting-edge weapon suite including supersonic missiles, was earlier commissioned into the Indian Navy on April 3.

Dunagiri, the fifth ship of the class and second of these frigates built at Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata, was delivered to the Navy on March 30 at GRSE, Kolkata, marking a major milestone in achieving self-reliance in battleship design and construction.

(With agency inputs)