The Indian Navy has commissioned two stealth frigates – INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri at the Naval Base in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, the defence ministry said.
Both the warships are largely homegrown with over 75% indigenous content, giving impetus to the government’s “aatmanirbharta” (self-reliance) push in defence manufacturing and making the country self-reliant in defence capabilities.
The ceremony was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Speaking on the occasion, the Defence Minister said, “I express my heartfelt appreciation to all those who, with complete dedication, are engaged in the service of the nation. I extend my congratulations and best wishes to the officers of the Indian Navy, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited, and to all my fellow countrymen. Today, I see this as a picture of India’s dreams coming true, as well as a testimony to our vision and commitment.”
Highlighting the choice of Visakhapatnam for the commissioning, Singh stated, “If there was one city chosen in the entire country to set a new idea in motion on such a global occasion, it was Visakhapatnam. Whenever someone aspires to do something big and transformative in life, they choose places that are strategically and culturally strong — and that is why Visakhapatnam was chosen.”
The Defence Minister emphasised India’s maritime strength. He said, “India is fully capable of safeguarding its maritime boundaries and is prepared to respond swiftly and decisively under any circumstances. Friends, with the commissioning of these two warships, the Indian Navy has been further strengthened as a true Blue Water Navy.”
Singh said the Indian Navy is now equipped not only to secure coastal areas but also to operate in the farthest reaches of the Indian Ocean.
“We are now equipped not only to secure our coastal areas but also to operate in the farthest reaches of the Indian Ocean — whether it is combating piracy, tackling smuggling and illegal activities, countering maritime terrorism, or providing relief in the aftermath of natural disasters. With their advanced features and multi-role capabilities, our warships will enable swift and effective action in every situation,” he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi reiterated that Operation Sindoor remains ‘unfinished’, and the Navy will be the first to act this time if the situation demands.
“In this era of uncertainties and competition, the Indian Navy’s capability to deliver an overwhelming force at sea is a credible deterrence against India’s enemies. We demonstrated it well during Operation Sindoor. The swift deployment and aggressive posturing of our units held the Pakistan Navy captive in a way and forced them to request us to end kinetic actions,” he said.
INS Udaygiri has been built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL), Mumbai, while INS Himgiri was constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, showcasing India’s growing shipbuilding prowess and also the synergy between India’s premier defence shipyards.
“Udaygiri and Himgiri are Project 17 (Shivalik) class frigates. Both these vessels incorporate significant improvements in design, stealth, weapon and sensor systems and are capable of executing a full spectrum of maritime missions in Blue Water conditions,” said an official statement.
INS Udaygiri also holds the distinction of being the fastest ship of her class to be delivered post-launch, a result of the modular construction methodology adopted by Indian shipyards.
Both warships have been named after earlier INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34) frigates that served the nation with distinction for over 30 years before being recently decommissioned.
The commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri will augment the Navy’s combat readiness and reaffirm India’s resolve to achieve self-reliance in warship design and construction.
Upon commissioning, the two frigates will join the Eastern Fleet, strengthening India’s ability to safeguard its maritime interests across the Indian Ocean Region.
(With inputs from agencies)