India modernizes Eastern Fleet with two new Nilgiri-class frigates INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri.

On August 26, 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned two Nilgiri-class multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at the Naval Base Visakhapatnam in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This was the first occasion on which two frontline surface combatants constructed simultaneously by two different Indian shipyards were commissioned together. INS Udaygiri was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, while INS Himgiri was constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata. Both ships are part of Project 17A and will operate with the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy. Their induction was presented as evidence of India’s expanding indigenous shipbuilding capacity and the Navy’s intent to strengthen its operational focus on the eastern seaboard.
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India currently operates 17 frigates across several classes, including the Nilgiri-class, the Shivalik-class (Project 17), the Talwar-class (built in Russia), and older Brahmaputra-class frigates that are nearing retirement. (Picture source: Indian Navy)

During the commissioning ceremony, Defence Minister Singh stated that the frigates will strengthen the Navy’s ability to safeguard maritime borders, conduct combat missions, and provide assistance in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. He connected the induction to India’s “Neighbourhood First” and “MAHASAGAR” policies, which emphasize regional maritime security and cooperative development in the Indian Ocean. He also noted that the ships would reinforce the Navy’s role as a First Responder and as a preferred security partner in the region. In the same speech, he reiterated India’s stance of not pursuing aggressive expansion but of responding decisively to threats. He referred to Operation Sindoor, launched after civilian casualties in Pahalgam, as an example of effective and precise naval action conducted in coordination with other services and agencies.

The two frigates displace around 6,700 tonnes each, making them approximately 5 percent larger than their predecessors in the Shivalik-class. They are 149 meters long with a beam of 17.8 meters, a draft of 5.22 meters, and a depth of 9.9 meters. Their propulsion uses a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) arrangement with two MAN Diesel 12V28/33D STC engines rated at 6,000 kW each and two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines providing 30,200 kW each. The propulsion drives controllable-pitch propellers through an Integrated Platform Management System that balances power between cruising and high-speed requirements. Maximum speed is recorded at 32 knots, with ranges of 2,500 nautical miles at 28 knots and 5,500 nautical miles at 16–18 knots. The ships carry a complement of 226 personnel, including 35 officers.

The standard weapons suite of the Nilgiri-class includes eight BrahMos supersonic surface-to-surface missiles in vertical launchers, 32 Barak-8 medium-range surface-to-air missiles housed in four eight-cell vertical launch systems, a main 76 mm OTO Melara naval gun manufactured by BHEL, and four AK-630 close-in weapon systems. For anti-submarine warfare, the ships are equipped with two triple 324 mm torpedo tubes capable of firing Shyena lightweight torpedoes and two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers. The ships also mount Kavach chaff decoy systems and NSTL Maareech torpedo countermeasure systems for defense. Each frigate has a helicopter hangar and deck facilities capable of operating either HAL Dhruv maritime helicopters or Sea King Mk. 42B for reconnaissance and anti-submarine roles.

Sensors and electronics include the IAI-BEL EL/M-2248 MF-STAR active electronically scanned array radar with a range of over 450 km, Indra Sistemas-Tata Lanza-N 3D air surveillance radar with a range of over 250 nautical miles, and the BEL HUMSA-NG hull-mounted sonar for detecting and tracking submarines. Electronic warfare and countermeasures are handled by the DRDO-developed Shakti electronic warfare suite and BEL Ajanta systems, which provide radar interception, electronic support measures, and jamming. The ships are fitted with an indigenous combat management system known as CMS-17A that integrates sensors and weapons and enables data exchange with other Indian Navy platforms. Their design incorporates reduced radar and infrared signatures through shaping, composite materials, radar-absorbent coatings, and exhaust suppression systems, while acoustic quieting measures limit hydrodynamic noise from machinery and propellers.

The keel of the INS Udaygiri (F35), constructed by MDL, was laid on May 7, 2019, and the ship was launched on May 17, 2022, preceding the delivery to the Indian Navy on July 1, 2025. (Picture source: MDL)

India currently operates 17 frigates across several classes, including the Nilgiri-class, Shivalik-class (Project 17), the Talwar-class (built in Russia), and older Brahmaputra-class frigates that are nearing retirement. The commissioning of the Nilgiri-class represents a planned generational replacement of the aging Leander-derived designs while reinforcing the Navy’s blue-water capacity. The new frigates are intended to operate as independent patrol vessels or as escorts in carrier battle groups, particularly with INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. They contribute to layered maritime security missions, including anti-submarine operations, air-defense tasks, surface warfare, convoy protection, and humanitarian assistance. They also provide India with expanded reach into the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indian Ocean.

Project 17A originated in 2009, when the Defence Acquisition Council approved the construction of seven Nilgiri-class frigates (INS Nilgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Taragiri, INS Mahendragiri, INS Himgiri, INS Dunagiri, and INS Vindhyagiri), built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata at a cost of ₹45,000 crore (around $6.3 billion in 2023). The project was conceived as a follow-on to the three-ship Shivalik-class, incorporating modular construction and enhanced stealth technologies. The design was completed in 2013 by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and publicly revealed in 2018. Construction began in 2017 at MDL and in 2018 at GRSE. Both shipyards incorporated modular block building and invested in new facilities, including large Goliath cranes and workshops. Italy’s Fincantieri provided technical assistance in modular methods. The seven ships are named after the previous Nilgiri-class of the 1970s to 2013, except for Mahendragiri, which is a new name.

INS Nilgiri, the lead ship, was launched in 2019 and commissioned on January 15, 2025, marking the first of the series to enter service. INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are the second and third ships. The four remaining vessels—Taragiri, Mahendragiri, Dunagiri, and Vindhyagiri—are under construction and scheduled for delivery by 2026. Together, these ships will replace older classes and expand the Eastern Fleet. A follow-on Project 17B program is under planning, expected to include seven frigates divided between MDL and GRSE with a projected cost of ₹70,000 crore (around $8 billion). This project is anticipated to be launched by the end of 2025.

INS Udaygiri (F35) was constructed by MDL. The keel was laid on May 7, 2019, the ship was launched on May 17, 2022, and it was delivered to the Indian Navy on July 1, 2025. It was commissioned on August 26, 2025. The ship carries eight BrahMos missiles, 32 Barak-8 SAMs, a 76 mm OTO Melara gun, two AK-630s, torpedo tubes, and rocket launchers. Its sensors include MF-STAR, Lanza-N, HUMSA-NG sonar, and the Ajanta EW suite. The ship can host HAL Dhruv or Sea King helicopters. It displaces 6,670 tonnes, has a range of 5,500 nautical miles at 16–18 knots, and operates with a complement of 226 personnel. The name Udaygiri is inherited from a Leander-class frigate that served from 1976 until 2007.

The INS Himgiri, named after a Leander-class frigate in service from 1974 to 2005, shares the same displacement, propulsion, and crew size as the INS Udaygiri. (Picture source: Indian MoD)

The construction of Udaygiri used modular techniques, making it the fastest ship of its class to be completed post-launch, with a build time of 37 months. It is considered the 100th warship design completed by the Warship Design Bureau. Udaygiri is fitted with older BHEL-manufactured OTO Melara guns, distinguishing it from Himgiri. It joins the Eastern Fleet and is tasked with anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine missions, sea-control operations, and HADR tasks. It is designed to integrate with India’s broader naval network and to perform escort and patrol missions across the Indian Ocean. Its commissioning is intended to reinforce the Navy’s operational availability and to further India’s policy of self-reliance in warship building.

INS Himgiri (F34) was built by GRSE in Kolkata. The keel was laid on November 10, 2018, the ship was launched on December 14, 2020, and it was delivered on July 31, 2025. It was commissioned alongside Udaygiri on August 26, 2025. The ship mounts an upgraded OTO Melara Strales gun produced by BHEL, capable of firing DART guided ammunition. Himgiri’s suite includes eight BrahMos, 32 Barak-8 SAMs, torpedo tubes, rocket launchers, MF-STAR radar, Lanza-N radar, HUMSA-NG sonar, and the Ajanta EW suite. In addition to Kavach launchers, it is fitted with the NSTL Maareech torpedo countermeasure system. It shares the same displacement, propulsion, and crew size as Udaygiri. Its name honors the earlier INS Himgiri, a Leander-class frigate in service from 1974 to 2005.

Himgiri’s construction faced challenges including infrastructure setbacks at GRSE, but was completed on schedule through modular block fabrication. It was the first ship of the class delivered by GRSE. Its commissioning marks the first time two ships built at different shipyards were inducted simultaneously. Himgiri is assigned to the Eastern Fleet and is tasked with securing sea lanes in the Bay of Bengal, escorting high-value units, and conducting patrols. Its enhanced gun system and torpedo defense capabilities distinguish it within the class. Together with Udaygiri, it adds redundancy and operational depth to the Indian Navy’s posture in the Indian Ocean, while further embedding India’s policy of building all future naval ships domestically.