The Indian Navy has received the stealth frigate Udaygiri, the second vessel under Project 17A, marking a major milestone in India’s indigenous warship development programme. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, Udaygiri was delivered on 1 July 2025, just 37 months after its launch—an accelerated timeline that reflects advances in shipbuilding efficiency under the Integrated Construction methodology.
Project 17A is the successor to the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates, already in service, and aims to bolster India’s maritime capabilities with next-generation platforms designed to operate in high-threat blue water environments. Udaygiri, named after a decommissioned predecessor that served the nation for 31 years, is one of seven frigates being constructed under this project—four at MDL and three at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The remaining five ships are at varying stages of construction and are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026.
The new class represents a significant upgrade, boasting a hull that is 4.54% geo-symmetrically larger than the earlier Shivalik-class and featuring improved stealth design elements. Armed with a supersonic surface-to-surface missile system, a medium-range surface-to-air missile system, a 76 mm main gun, and a mix of 30 mm and 12.7 mm rapid-fire close-in weapon systems, Udaygiri is equipped for multi-domain operations. Propulsion is delivered via a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) system, using both diesel engines and gas turbines paired with controllable pitch propellers and integrated with a state-of-the-art Platform Management System.
The delivery underscores the Indian Navy’s growing in-house design expertise, led by the Warship Design Bureau, and showcases the effectiveness of domestic shipbuilding capabilities. The construction process generated significant economic activity, with direct employment for about 4,000 workers and indirect opportunities for over 10,000 personnel. More than 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contributed to the project, supplying weapons, sensors, and key components, thereby reinforcing the nation’s goal of Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing.
The Udaygiri delivery reflects the synergy of engineering innovation, industrial collaboration and strategic foresight, reinforcing India’s commitment to strengthening its maritime security while advancing self-reliance in critical defence technologies.
