Multi-mission stealth frigates INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri have been welcomed into the Indian Navy via a unique twin commissioning ceremony at Visakhapatnam Naval Base.
Tuesday’s event at the headquarters of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marked the first time frigates constructed by different shipbuilders had been inducted into the fleet together.
INS Udaygiri was built by Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) while INS Himgiri came together at Kolkata’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
The two new warships each carry special significance: Udaygiri is the 100th ship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, while Himgiri is the first of its class produced at the GRSE yard.
At Tuesday’s ceremony Mr Singh hailed the “seamless collaboration” between MDL and GRSE and commented: “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 ready to respond immediately to any situation.”
He added: “From combating piracy, fighting against smuggling and illegal trafficking, curbing maritime terrorism, or providing relief after a natural disaster, these warships will prove to be a game-changer in complex and risky operations.”
And he also noted: “The geo-strategic condition is such that it has the capability to directly impact our economic development. Our energy requirements, oil and natural gas depend to a large extent on the security of this region. Our Navy has emerged as a major pillar of our national economic security.”
The Nilgiri-class frigates, which are replacing the Shivalik-class vessels, “represent a generational leap” from their predecessors, as per an Indian Ministry of Defence (IMoD) press release. Roughly 75% of all the ship’s systems have been domestically developed.
The 149-metre warships each displace about 6,700 tons, have a 5,500-nautical-mile range and are capable of cruising at up to 32 knots.
As per previous IMoD statements, their weapon suite includes the supersonic BrahMos anti-ship missile system, and Barak 8 medium-range surface-to-air missiles.
The ships are also fitted with Varunastra torpedoes and an OTO Melara 76mm naval gun, and a combination of 30mm and 12.7mm rapid-fire close-in weapon systems.
Both frigates will join India’s Eastern Fleet, significantly enhancing the nation’s ability to react rapidly to maritime threats and to help secure safe passage for shipping in the Bay of Bengal and further afield.
A further four Nilgiri-class frigates are in various stages of construction at MDL and GRSE; the remaining warships are scheduled to be delivered to the Indian Navy by mid-2026.
Other Indian Navy ships commissioned so far this year include destroyer INS Surat, frigate INS Nilgiri, submarine INS Vaghsheer, ASW Shallow Water Craft INS Arnala, and Diving Support Vessel INS Nistar.
- You can read more details on the Indian Ministry of Defence website