Context
The Indian Navy will formally commission INS Mahendragiri (F38) — its 6th of 7 Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) indigenous guided-missile stealth frigates — on 11 July 2026 at Visakhapatnam, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Designed in-house by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) of the Indian Navy and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Mumbai, the frigate features 75%+ indigenous content — showcasing India’s push under Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats (Odisha) — the 2nd-highest peak in Odisha (~1,501 m) — it joins the Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Naval Command. The frigate is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, is 149 metres long, and was delivered to the Navy on 30 April 2026 — about 17 months after the lead ship INS Nilgiri (December 2024). Its construction involved 200+ MSMEs, ~4,000 direct jobs, and ~10,000 indirect jobs. The programme cost is ~₹45,000 crore for all 7 ships.
The commissioning at a glance
- Ship: INS Mahendragiri (F38).
- Class: Nilgiri-class (Project 17A).
- Position: 6th of 7 frigates.
- Commissioning: 11 July 2026, Visakhapatnam.
- Attended by: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
- Fleet: Eastern Fleet, Eastern Naval Command.
- Delivered: 30 April 2026.
What is Project 17A?
- Series of 7 advanced stealth frigates — successor to Project 17 (Shivalik-class).
- Total cost: ~₹45,000 crore.
- Builders: 4 by MDL Mumbai + 3 by GRSE Kolkata.
- Predecessor: Shivalik-class (Project 17) — first stealth frigate class.
- Successor: Project 17B (under design).
