By A Correspondent

Mumbai: In a significant milestone for India’s maritime defence capabilities, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) handed over Udaygiri (Yard 12652), the second stealth frigate of the Project 17A (P17A) class, to the Indian Navy on July 1, 2025.

The delivery marks a major stride in India’s quest for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative of the Government of India.

Project 17A is the advanced follow-on to the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates currently in service. Udaygiri is one of seven multi-mission stealth frigates being built at MDL, Mumbai, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, tailored to operate in blue water environments and tackle both conventional and non-conventional maritime threats.

Does INS Udaygiri Pack Some Punch?

Named after its decommissioned namesake that served for 31 years, the new INS Udaygiri features next-generation stealth technology, state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, and a 4.54% larger hull compared to its predecessor. The ship is powered by a CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) propulsion system and equipped with Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) and an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).

Its advanced weapon suite includes a supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missile system, Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles, a 76mm main gun, and close-in weapon systems of 30 mm and 12.7 mm calibres.

How does INS Udaygiri Power the Defence Industrial Base?

Delivered just 37 months after its launch, Udaygiri was constructed using the ‘Integrated Construction’ methodology, enabling faster assembly and outfitting. Over 200 MSMEs contributed to the warship’s development, underlining India’s growing defence industrial base.

The project has also spurred significant employment, generating jobs for 4,000 personnel directly and over 10,000 through ancillary industries, while strengthening India’s maritime industrial ecosystem.

Key Takeaways:

• INS Udaygiri, the second advanced stealth frigate under Project 17A, was delivered to the Indian Navy on 1 July 2025, enhancing India’s blue water operational capability.
• Built using integrated construction by MDL with contributions from 200+ MSMEs, the ship showcases indigenous defence manufacturing under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and was completed in a record 37 months.
• Armed with cutting-edge weapons, stealth tech, and CODOG propulsion, Udaygiri reflects a major upgrade over the Shivalik class and contributes to employment generation and defence industrial growth.

The remaining five P17A frigates are at various stages of construction and are scheduled for delivery by end-2026, reaffirming India’s trajectory towards a self-reliant and modern naval force.

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