The Indian Navy is inducting Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, into the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam on 11 July 2026. The commissioning is being presented as a milestone in India’s naval modernisation and defence indigenisation.
Mahendragiri was designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai. The ship is part of the Project 17A line of stealth frigates and reflects the growing role of Indian shipyards and domestic industry in complex warship construction.
What the ship adds
The frigate is described as having advanced stealth features, enhanced survivability, reduced radar signature, and a high degree of automation. The Indian Navy says the ship is designed for full-spectrum maritime operations across the dimensions of naval warfare.
Mahendragiri is also fitted with indigenous and state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, and electronic warfare systems. According to the release, the warship can undertake anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine operations, along with maritime security duties, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and sustained deployments across the Indian Ocean Region.
Background and continuity
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