Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday praised the Indian Navy during the commissioning of two advanced stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam. Indirectly referring to the United States, he drew a comparison with its fifth-generation fighter jet. “One nation has a flying F-35 and you have built a floating F-35, that too Made in India,” Singh said at the ceremony, describing the warships as indigenous marvels and a symbol of India’s growing self-reliance in defence technology.
Historic Commissioning
This commissioning marked a historic first, as frontline surface combatants built at two different shipyards joined the Navy on the same day. INS Udaygiri was constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai, while INS Himgiri was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata. Rajnath Singh said the induction of these ships would significantly increase the Navy’s strength, reach, and resilience. Calling the event “a dream come true towards Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he noted that both frigates would stand as milestones in the nation’s security architecture.
Attended the Commissioning Ceremony of Multi-mission stealth frigates - INS Udaygiri & INS Himgiri in Visakhapatnam today.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 26, 2025
These frigates, which will enhance the capability of the Indian Navy, send a message that India is fully capable of protecting its maritime borders and is… pic.twitter.com/jibzHurup7
Game-Changers at Sea
The Defence Minister said he was confident that these warships would transform naval operations in complex and risky environments. “I believe that their commissioning in the Indian Navy is a step that will strengthen our neighbourhood first and mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth for all in the region,” he remarked. He also made it clear that India will no longer rely on foreign shipbuilding for its naval fleet. “INS Tamal was the last foreign order for the Indian Navy. We have decided that no future ship for the Indian Navy will be built abroad; we will build our ships in India. This is a very decisive step towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing,” he said. Singh also noted that the commissioning of these frigates symbolised a century of progress for the Indian Navy.
Advanced Features of the New Warships
INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are part of Project 17A, which succeeds the Shivalik-class under Project 17. The Ministry of Defence said these warships incorporate improved stealth designs with reduced radar visibility, cutting-edge surveillance radars, electronic warfare suites, and modern weapon systems including supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and rapid-fire gun systems. They also feature Combined Diesel or Gas propulsion plants, allowing them to achieve higher speeds with better fuel efficiency, as well as an Integrated Platform Management System that improves performance and control.
According to the ministry, these multi-mission frigates will act as crucial operational assets and strengthen the Navy’s capacity to safeguard national interests across the entire spectrum of maritime missions.