INS Mahendragiri, an indigenous Nilgiri‑class stealth guided‑missile frigate (Project 17A), will be commissioned at Visakhapatnam on 11 July 2026.
Key design and build facts
- Design: Warship Design Bureau (WDB) — in‑house design agency of the Indian Navy.
- Builder: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai; Project 17A ships also built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
- Indigenous content: Over 75% indigenous equipment and systems.
- Delivery and commissioning: Delivered after sea trials on 30 April 2026; commissioning on 11 July 2026 at Visakhapatnam.
- Numbering: Project 17A comprises seven Nilgiri‑class frigates; reports differ on whether Mahendragiri is the sixth or seventh inducted.
Armament, sensors and systems
- Missiles: BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles (surface‑to‑surface); Barak‑8/MRSAM for medium‑range air defence.
- Anti‑submarine: Integrated ASW suite including torpedoes, hull‑mounted/swedged sonars and ASW rocket systems.
- Electronic warfare & sensors: Indigenous EW capability, modern radars and electro‑optic sensors.
- Automation: Automated platform management systems for reduced crew workload and enhanced survivability.
Propulsion and roles
- Propulsion: Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) — diesel for cruising/endurance; gas turbines for high‑speed operations.
- Operational roles: Maritime security, anti‑submarine warfare, anti‑air defence, long‑range strike, search & rescue, humanitarian assistance and sustained presence.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Project 17A class: Referred to as Nilgiri‑class; follow‑on to earlier Project 17 design lineage.
- Ship number: Pennant F38 for INS Mahendragiri.
- Strategic theatre: Designed for operations across the Indo‑Pacific littoral and blue‑water environments.