INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri
Why in news?
INS Udaygiri was commissioned along with INS Himgiri on 26 August 2025 at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
About
INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are advanced stealth guided-missile frigates of the Indian Navy, built under Project 17A (Nilgiri-class), representing a significant leap in indigenous warship design with around 75% local content. They are multi-mission platforms capable of anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine warfare, and land-attack roles, boosting India’s maritime strike and defense capabilities.
INS Udaygiri Key Highlights
- Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai; second ship of Project 17A.
- Displacement: About 6,700 tonnes.
- Advanced stealth design minimizing radar, infrared, and acoustic signatures.
- Propulsion: Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) system.
- Armament includes BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles, Barak 8 surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm main gun, Close-In Weapon Systems, and advanced anti-submarine warfare weapons.
- Indigenous content around 75%, with over 200 MSMEs involved and nearly 4,000 direct jobs created.
- Marked as the 100th vessel designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
- Fast construction timeline: laid down Dec 2017, launched May 2022, delivered July 2025.
- Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata; first Project 17A frigate from this yard.
- Displacement: About 6,670 tonnes; length: 149 meters.
- Enhanced stealth features to reduce radar and infrared signatures.
- Propulsion: CODOG system with speeds over 28 knots.
- Armament includes BrahMos missiles, Barak 8 air defense system, Close-In Weapon Systems, anti-submarine rocket launchers, torpedo tubes, and advanced electronic warfare systems.
- Equipped with MF-STAR AESA radar, BEL HUMSA-NG sonar, and Ajanta electronic warfare suite.
- Aviation capabilities with flight deck and hangar supporting MH-60 Romeo, ALH Dhruv Mk-III, and Sea King helicopters.
- Around 75% indigenous content.
- Launched in Dec 2020, delivered July 2025, continuing the legacy of the original INS Himgiri (1974–2005).
- Both ships have reduced radar cross-sections, composite superstructures, and flush-mounted systems to enhance stealth.
- They operate with a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system and an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for automation.
- Their commissioning is a milestone in India's defense self-reliance, modular shipbuilding, and naval modernization.
- These frigates strengthen India’s ability to operate across the Indian Ocean, enhancing maritime security and power projection.
- This simultaneous commissioning at Visakhapatnam marks a new era of operational capability and naval autonomy for India.
