Government shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has delivered the fourth stealth frigate 'Mahendragiri' built under Project-17A to the Indian Navy. This warship will soon be commissioned as INS Mahendragiri and join the Navy fleet. During the delivery, the acceptance document was signed by Captain Jagmohan (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, MDL and Rear Admiral Gautam Marwaha, Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Eastern Naval Command.
Senior officers of Navy and MDL were present on this occasion. This is the last frigate of Project-17A built in MDL, which gives new strength to Self-reliant India and Make in India campaign. Project-17A is the next generation stealth frigate program of the Indian Navy, which is considered to be an advanced version of the older Project 17 Shivalik class. A total of 7 state-of-the-art stealth frigates are being built under this project, some of which are being built by MDL and some by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
Mahendragiri is a stealth guided missile frigate (P-17A), which is approximately 149 meters long. Its weight is about 66006700 tonnes and it can run at a speed of more than 28 knots. It is capable of long distance operations and can carry approximately 150,180 sailors.
It is equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (anti-ship/land attack) long-range surface-to-air missile system. If we talk about gun system, 76 mm main naval cannon Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) has also been fitted in it. The anti-submarine warfare (ASW) torpedo and rocket launcher has advanced sonar systems and is capable of multi-role helicopter-like operations.
Mahendragiri has been built with stealth technology, which helps it to escape from enemy radar. It also has Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) and advanced AESA radar and sensors, network-centric warfare capability.
Mahendragiri is a great example of India's indigenous defense manufacturing capability. A large number of indigenous equipment and systems have been installed in this warship. It has been constructed using state-of-the-art modular technology, which has reduced both time and cost.
These stealth frigates, to be built under Mahendragiri Project-17A, will prove to be the backbone of the Indian Navy in the coming years and will further strengthen India's strategic edge in the Indian Ocean.
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