Historic Twin Commissioning Strengthens India's Naval Power

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned two indigenous multi-mission stealth frigates - INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri - into the Indian Navy on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. This marks the first time in Indian naval history that two warships have been commissioned simultaneously, significantly enhancing India's maritime capabilities in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.

Key Features of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri

Project 17A Nilgiri-Class Specifications

Both frigates belong to the Project 17A Nilgiri-class and represent the next generation of Indian naval warfare capabilities:

Technical Specifications:

Length: 149 meters

Displacement: 6,670 tonnes

Speed: Over 28 knots

Crew: 200 personnel

Advanced stealth technology making them nearly invisible to enemy radar, infrared, and acoustic sensors

Advanced Weapon Systems

The frigates are equipped with cutting-edge armaments:

BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles - capable of striking targets at over 290 km range

Barak-8 Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) system - developed jointly by India and Israel

Anti-submarine torpedoes for underwater warfare capabilities

76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount for surface engagements

Integrated combat management system for coordinated operations

Indigenous Manufacturing Excellence

Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Action

The commissioning highlights India's growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing:

INS Himgiri: Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata

INS Udaygiri: Constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai

Both ships feature 75% indigenous content

Part of the ₹45,000 crore Project 17A program

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that all future warships will be built in India, reinforcing the government's commitment to indigenous defense production.

Strategic Significance for Indo-Pacific Security

Maritime Domain Dominance

The deployment of these frigates in the Indo-Pacific region serves multiple strategic purposes:

Countering Chinese naval expansion in the Indian Ocean Region

Protecting vital sea lanes through which 60% of global maritime trade passes

Strengthening India's position as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific

Enhancing deterrence capabilities against potential maritime threats

Regional Security Architecture

These frigates will play crucial roles in:

Quad maritime cooperation exercises with US, Japan, and Australia

Anti-piracy operations in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean

Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions

Freedom of navigation operations in international waters

Project 17A: Complete Fleet Status

The Project 17A program encompasses seven advanced frigates:

Commissioned Ships:

INS Nilgiri (April 2023)

INS Udaygiri (August 2025)

INS Himgiri (August 2025)

Under Construction:

Four additional frigates at various stages of completion

Expected commissioning by 2027-2028

Technology and Innovation Highlights

Stealth Capabilities

The frigates incorporate state-of-the-art stealth features:

Reduced radar cross-section through angular design

Infrared signature suppression systems

Acoustic dampening for submarine detection avoidance

Advanced electronic warfare suites

Combat Management Systems

Both ships feature integrated combat management systems enabling:

Real-time threat assessment and response

Multi-platform coordination capabilities

Advanced sensor integration

Network-centric warfare capabilities

Why This Matters for Your Exam Preparation

This development is highly significant for UPSC and competitive exam aspirants across multiple dimensions:

Defense & Security (GS Paper 3):

Understanding India's indigenous defense capabilities and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative

Knowledge of advanced missile systems (BrahMos, Barak-8) and their strategic importance

Maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region

International Relations (GS Paper 2):

India's strategic partnerships with Israel (Barak-8 missile system)

Quad cooperation and Indo-Pacific strategy

India-China maritime competition dynamics

Geography (GS Paper 1):

Strategic importance of Indian Ocean sea lanes

Visakhapatnam's role as India's submarine and naval hub

Understanding maritime chokepoints and trade routes

Current Affairs Integration:

Recent developments in China's naval expansion (String of Pearls strategy)

India's response through indigenous shipbuilding capabilities

Defense budget allocation trends and Make in India success stories

Essay and Ethics Applications:

Indigenous innovation versus import dependency

Strategic autonomy in defense manufacturing

Technology transfer and international cooperation models

Expected Questions:

Analyze the significance of Project 17A frigates in India's maritime security strategy

Discuss the role of indigenous defense production in achieving strategic autonomy

Evaluate India's Indo-Pacific strategy in the context of regional security challenges