AS INS Mahendragiri was commissioned into the Indian Navy on Saturday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the indigenous stealth frigate would further enhance the strength of India’s eastern seaboard, expand the country’s blue-water capabilities, and reinforce its strategic presence across the Indian Ocean Region. The Indian Navy formally inducted INS Mahendragiri, the sixth indigenous stealth frigate built under Project 17A, during a commissioning ceremony held in Visakhapatnam. Addressing the event, Defence Minister Singh said, “It is a beautiful coincidence that this commissioning is being done in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam. Visakhapatnam is not only the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command but also one of the strongest pillars of India’s maritime power.

 

Andhra Pradesh is a land of pride and valour. Even today, Andhra Pradesh upholds its legacy; it has today emerged as a defence and aerospace manufacturing powerhouse.” Highlighting the progress of the Project 17A programme, the Defence Minister said, “INS Mahendragiri is the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate. The first of this class, INS Nilgiri, was commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2025. In August 2025, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri were commissioned together. In April 2026, INS Taragiri was commissioned in Visakhapatnam. In June, INS Dunagiri was commissioned by the Prime Minister in Kolkata, and today this sixth ship, INS Mahendragiri, is being inducted into our Navy.”