India launches last Project 17A Nilgiri class frigate Mahendragiri.

According to information published by ABP Live on September 1, 2023, the Indian Navy unveiled its last stealth frigate under Project 17A, INS 'Mahendragiri', at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd.
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Nilgiri class frigate INS Mahendragiri. (Picture source: Indian Navy)

The vessel, named after a peak in the Eastern Ghats of Odisha, was the seventh in the Project 17A series. Equipped with stealth features, weaponry, and sensors, the Project 17A frigates were an extension of the earlier Project 17 series.

The ships from Project 17A were mainly products of domestic engineering, with the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau taking the lead. The Navy reported that 75% of equipment and systems onboard were sourced from local companies, including MSMEs. The introduction of INS Mahendragiri highlighted India's steps towards developing a self-sustaining naval force.

In the previous month, President Droupadi Murmu had overseen the launch of the stealth frigate, INS Vindhyagiri, at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in Kolkata. This was the sixth of seven vessels planned under 'Project 17 Alpha' and the third produced by GRSE.

The Indian Navy had noted that the INS Vindhyagiri was named after a former vessel of the Leander Class ASW Frigate, which had been active from 1981-2012.

Technical data

Designated as guided missile frigates, the P17A ships measured 149 metres in length and had a displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes. They could achieve speeds of up to 28 knots and were designed to address threats in air, surface, and underwater scenarios.

With a crew of around 226, including 35 officers, these frigates house two rigid-hulled inflatable boats for various operations. Equipped with IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR S-Band AESA radar and Indra LTR-25 'Lanza' L-Band surface-search radar, along with BEL HUMSA-NG active/passive sonar, they boast robust surveillance.

The "Combat Management System" (CMS-17A) coordinates systems effectively. Their DRDO "Shakti" electronic warfare suite includes ESM/ECM capabilities, backed by Kavach decoy launchers and NSTL Maareech torpedo-countermeasure systems.

Armaments include VLS for Barak 8 SAMs, BrahMos anti-ship missiles, triple-tube torpedo launchers, OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun, and AK-630M CIWS. Two helicopters, HAL Dhruv or Sea King Mk. 42B, enhance anti-submarine and maritime surveillance. In essence, Nilgiri-class frigates significantly bolster India's naval prowess.