The Indian Navy is set to enhance its capabilities with the induction of the indigenous stealth frigate 'Mahendragiri', which is scheduled to officially join the fleet on July 11. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced this significant development on Friday, highlighting that this new warship will play a crucial role in safeguarding the nation's maritime interests.

'Mahendragiri' is the sixth vessel in the Nilgiri class (Project-17A). The commissioning ceremony will take place in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. A spokesperson from the Navy stated that this warship is fully prepared to be integrated into the fleet as a 'mission-prime combat platform'.

Expressing his excitement about this momentous occasion, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh took to social media platform X to share his sentiments. He mentioned that he will be traveling to Visakhapatnam to witness this proud moment for the nation and the Indian Navy.

The Defense Minister further emphasized that this state-of-the-art warship, entirely manufactured in India, symbolizes the strong commitment to 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India). He noted that it stands as a testament to the remarkable capabilities of the country's domestic defense industries and MSMEs. Singh expressed confidence that 'Mahendragiri' is fully equipped to protect India's maritime interests and reinforce the commitment to a secure Indo-Pacific region.