- Defence Minister says India is the ‘primary guarantor of peace and stability’ in the Indian Ocean Region as Navy prepares to commission sixth Project 17A stealth warship at Visakhapatnam
- With over 75% indigenous content, Mahendragiri showcases Aatmanirbhar Bharat, cutting-edge naval technology and India’s emergence as a global warship-building powerhouse
- Advanced multi-role combat platform equipped for anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine warfare, HADR missions and sustained Indo-Pacific deployments
- ‘Future conflicts may emerge in unforeseen forms; our soldiers must remain technologically superior and mission-ready,’ says Defence Minister
NE DEFENCE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JULY 10
As India rapidly strengthens its maritime dominance in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific, the Indian Navy is poised to commission INS Mahendragiri (F38)—the sixth indigenous Project 17A stealth frigate—into the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam on Saturday, marking another decisive leap in the nation’s quest for naval self-reliance and blue-water combat capability.
On the eve of the commissioning, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the Indian Navy as the foremost guardian of India’s maritime interests, asserting that the country today stands as the “primary guarantor of peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).” Addressing naval personnel during the traditional Barakhana in Visakhapatnam, he underlined the strategic significance of the Navy in safeguarding India’s expanding economic and geopolitical interests across the Indo-Pacific.
“India stands as the primary guarantor of peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.”
The Defence Minister noted that over 90 per cent of India’s trade by volume moves through maritime routes, making the security of sea lanes, island territories and the Exclusive Economic Zone indispensable to the nation’s economic growth and strategic interests.
“The Indian Ocean Region is our courtyard, and securing the courtyard is our responsibility.”
Referring to the evolving global security environment marked by heightened geopolitical competition and increasing activity by extra-regional powers, Rajnath Singh commended the Indian Navy for protecting maritime borders, ensuring freedom of navigation and reinforcing India’s role as the Preferred Security Partner across the region.
He described the commissioning of Mahendragiri as yet another shining example of India’s growing indigenous defence capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Designed entirely by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, Mahendragiri represents the latest generation of frontline stealth frigates with more than 75 per cent indigenous content, reflecting the remarkable growth of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Equipped with sophisticated indigenous weapons, advanced sensors, integrated electronic warfare systems and reduced radar signature, the stealth warship is capable of undertaking the full spectrum of naval operations, including anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, besides maritime security operations, Search and Rescue missions and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) deployments across the Indian Ocean and beyond.
The Defence Minister emphasised that warfare is undergoing a profound transformation.
“Future conflicts could emerge in new and unforeseen forms. Soldiers must remain physically and mentally prepared, continuously upgrade their skills and master emerging technologies.”
He added: “There are conflicts that are fought without a formal declaration of war. The adversary of tomorrow may not look like the adversary of the past. The Government will leave no stone unturned to provide the soldiers with the world’s best weaponry, technology and resources. But weapons alone do not win wars; it is the people who wield them that do.”
Named after the majestic Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the warship becomes the first naval platform to bear the name, symbolising strength, resilience and unwavering resolve. Guided by its motto, “Mighty–Majestic–Matchless,” the frigate is mission-ready to protect India’s maritime interests and reinforce the Navy’s operational reach across the Indo-Pacific.
The Project 17A programme, comprising seven next-generation stealth frigates being built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, represents one of India’s most ambitious indigenous warship construction initiatives. The project has significantly strengthened the domestic defence industrial base by involving hundreds of Indian companies, including numerous MSMEs, while generating substantial employment and technological advancement.
Present on the occasion were Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, and senior officers of the Indian Navy, underscoring the strategic importance of the induction of one of India’s most advanced indigenous warships.
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