The Indian Navy is preparing to commission two advanced P17A frigates, Udaygiri (F35) and Himgiri (F34), on August 26, 2025.
As disclosed, this will be the first time that two major surface combatants from two Indian shipyards are being commissioned at the same time at Visakhapatnam.
Udaygiri, the second ship of the Project 17A stealth frigates, has been built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, while Himgiri is the first of the P17A ships being constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.
In another major milestone for the Indian Navy, Udaygiri is the 100th ship designed by the navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
According to the Indian Navy, Udaygiri and Himgiri represent a generational leap over earlier designs. Displacing about 6,700 tons , the P17A frigates are roughly five percent larger than their predecessor Shivalik-class frigates and incorporate a sleeker form, with a reduced radar cross section.
They are powered by combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion plants using diesel engines and gas turbines that drive controllable-pitch propellers and are managed through an integrated platform management system (IPMS).
The weapon suite includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, 76 mm MR gun, and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems and anti-submarine/ underwater weapon systems.
The commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri follows the commissioning of other indigenous platforms, including destroyer INS Surat, frigate INS Nilgiri, submarine INS Vaghsheer, ASW shallow water craft INS Arnala, and diving support vessel INS Nistar, all in 2025 alone.
Rigorous sea trials have validated the frigates’ hull, machinery, firefighting, damage control, navigation and communication systems, ensuring they are ready for operational deployment.
The joining of new vessels underscores the Indian Navy’s commitment to self-reliance in ship design and construction.