INS MAHENDRAGIRI: SIXTH PROJECT 17A STEALTH FRIGATE TO BE COMMISSIONED

Why in the News?

● Naval Induction: The Indian Navy will commission INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, on 11 July at Visakhapatnam.

● Aatmanirbhar Defence: The warship has been designed and built in India with over 75% indigenous content, strengthening domestic defence manufacturing.

PROJECT 17A STEALTH FRIGATES

●  About: Project 17A is the follow-on programme to Project 17 (Shivalik-class) for constructing advanced guided-missile stealth frigates for the Indian Navy.

●  Design and Construction: The frigates are designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).

●  Advanced Features: They incorporate stealth technology, reduced radar signature, high automation, integrated combat management systems, electronic warfare suites, and modern sensors and weapon systems.

●  Operational Capability: The frigates are capable of anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine warfare, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, search and rescue, and sustained Indo-Pacific deployments.

●  Significance: Project 17A enhances India’s maritime combat capability, strengthens indigenous shipbuilding, and supports the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.

INS MAHENDRAGIRI

●  About: INS Mahendragiri (F38) is the sixth of the seven Project 17A stealth frigates and is named after the Mahendragiri Hills in the Eastern Ghats.

●  Propulsion: It is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, enabling high-speed operations and long operational endurance.

●  Indigenous Content: More than 75% of its components are sourced domestically, involving a large network of Indian MSMEs and defence industries.

●  Force Multiplier: The ship significantly strengthens the Navy’s capability for multi-domain maritime operations while enhancing India’s blue-water naval presence.

●  Strategic Importance: INS Mahendragiri will contribute to safeguarding India’s maritime interests, securing Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), and promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific.

WARSHIP DESIGN BUREAU (WDB) ●  About: The Warship Design Bureau (WDB) is the Indian Navy’s in-house organisation responsible for the indigenous design of naval warships and auxiliary vessels. ●  Functions: It undertakes concept design, detailed ship design, systems integration, platform architecture, and lifecycle support for Indian naval platforms. ●  Achievements: The Bureau has designed several indigenous warships, including the Delhi-class, Kolkata-class, Shivalik-class, Nilgiri-class (Project 17A), and Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (INS Vikrant). ●  Importance: WDB is central to India’s goal of achieving self-reliance in naval shipbuilding and reducing dependence on foreign defence technologies. ●  UPSC Relevance: Important under GS Paper III – Defence Technology, Maritime Security, Indigenous Defence Production, Blue Economy, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.