The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mahendragiri at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. INS Mahendragiri is the sixth indigenous stealth frigate built under Project 17A.
Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the warship is the first vessel in the Indian Navy to bear the name. It is intended to strengthen maritime security and enhance India's strategic maritime capability.
INS Mahendragiri has been designed to meet the requirements of modern naval warfare. It incorporates advanced stealth technology, reduced radar signature, a high level of automation, enhanced protection and combat capability, and the ability to undertake a range of naval operations.
The warship is equipped with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air weapon systems, along with modern sensors and defence equipment. It is expected to enhance the Indian Navy's capability for long-range maritime operations.
Addressing the commissioning ceremony, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised Andhra Pradesh's expanding role in the defence and technology sectors. He said the state could emerge as an important centre for India's defence and technological development in the future.
Referring to the proposed Drone City in Kurnool, Singh said that just as Surat is known as the Diamond City and Bengaluru as India's Silicon Valley, the region in Andhra Pradesh could emerge as a major drone hub in the country in the coming years.
The Defence Minister said Andhra Pradesh is contributing to India's defence capabilities across air, sea, land and unmanned technologies.
He said that while India is advancing projects such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), institutions such as Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) are contributing to the development of naval systems. He added that projects including drone technology in Kurnool and INS Mahendragiri in Visakhapatnam demonstrate Andhra Pradesh's multidimensional contribution to the defence sector.
The Indian Navy is currently constructing more than 40 indigenous warships. With the commissioning of INS Mahendragiri, the Navy's frigate fleet has increased to 20. The warship is expected to strengthen the Navy's maritime surveillance, defence and strategic operational capabilities.
INS Mahendragiri was designed by the Naval Warship Design Bureau and built by Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
