The Indian Navy will commission INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, into the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam on 11 July 2026. The commissioning ceremony will be presided over by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, marking another significant milestone in India’s pursuit of defence self-reliance and indigenous warship construction.
Designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, INS Mahendragiri represents the latest generation of indigenous stealth frigates. The warship incorporates advanced stealth features, enhanced survivability, reduced radar signature and a high degree of automation, enabling it to undertake the full spectrum of maritime operations across all dimensions of naval warfare.
With over 75 per cent indigenous content, the frigate reflects the success of the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and showcases the growing capability of India’s indigenous shipbuilding industry. The construction of the warship involved a wide network of Indian industries, including numerous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to the strengthening of the country’s defence industrial base and employment generation.
INS Mahendragiri is equipped with an advanced suite of indigenous weapons, sensors and electronic warfare systems, providing formidable capabilities in anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. The multi-role platform is also capable of undertaking maritime security operations, Search and Rescue (SAR), Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions, and sustained deployments across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond.
Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the warship symbolises strength, resilience and steadfast resolve. As the first Indian Naval ship to bear the name, INS Mahendragiri carries forward the Navy’s legacy of operational excellence and is fully mission-ready to join the Eastern Fleet.
The induction of INS Mahendragiri will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s operational capability and further reinforce India’s position as a leading indigenous warship-building nation. The commissioning also strengthens the Navy’s ability to safeguard the nation’s maritime interests and supports India’s role as a preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region and a key contributor to a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Guided by its motto, “Mighty – Majestic – Matchless,” INS Mahendragiri is set to serve the nation as a modern frontline combat platform, further strengthening the Indian Navy’s maritime combat capability.
