The Indian Navy marked a historic milestone on 26 August 2025 by commissioning two frontline Nilgiri-class frigates, INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34), at Naval Base Visakhapatnam. According to the Ministry of Defence, this was the first time two surface combatants built at separate shipyards were commissioned on the same day. Both vessels will join the Navy’s Eastern Fleet, alongside three Shivalik-class frigates and the lead ship of the class, INS Nilgiri.
By Jarryd Sinovich
INS Udaygiri was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, while INS Himgiri was constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. MDL is responsible for four ships in the class and GRSE for three, with all seven frigates scheduled to be delivered by mid-2026. The two ships moved from keel-laying to commissioning in under seven years—Udaygiri’s keel was laid in May 2019 and Himgiri’s in November 2018. Both ships completed extensive harbour and sea trials before being handed over in July 2025. Udaygiri became the fastest ship of her class to be delivered post-launch, thanks to modular construction methods. The vessel also holds symbolic importance as the 100th warship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), and it reflects a high level of indigenisation, with nearly 75% of components sourced domestically.
The Project 17A frigates displace around 6,700 tons, making them about 5% larger than their Shivalik-class predecessors. Their sleeker design and reduced radar cross section provide improved stealth, while upgraded sensors and weapons offer enhanced combat power. Propelled by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) system—LM2500 gas turbines paired with diesel engines driving controllable-pitch propellers—the ships are operated via an Integrated Platform Management System.
Each frigate carries a formidable weapons suite, including eight BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles, thirty-two MRSAM surface-to-air missiles, two L&T triple torpedo launchers, two L&T indigenous rocket launchers, a 76 mm gun, two AK-630 close-in weapon systems, and multiple 12.7 mm machine guns. Udaygiri mounts the older BHEL-OTO Melara gun, while Himgiri is fitted with the more advanced OTO Melara Strales variant. Their primary sensors include the IAI MF-STAR AESA radar produced partly by Bharat Electronics Limited, the Indra Sistemas LANZA-N 3D air-surveillance radar manufactured under licence by Tata, and the BEL HUMSA-NG hull-mounted sonar.
Both ships inherit the legacy of earlier vessels bearing the same names. The previous INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34) served the Indian Navy for over three decades before decommissioning, and the revival of their names reflects continuity and tradition within the fleet.
Looking ahead, the Navy is already preparing for a follow-on class, Project 17B, which will comprise seven advanced frigates. As with the Nilgiri-class, the order is expected to be split between MDL and GRSE in a 4:3 ratio. A formal Request for Proposal is anticipated by the end of 2025, with the programme estimated at ₹70,000 crore, or roughly USD 8 billion.
The commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri not only strengthens India’s surface combatant fleet but also highlights the growing maturity of its shipbuilding industry, which is now able to deliver advanced warships on schedule from multiple yards in parallel.
