MUMBAI, India — The Indian Navy took delivery of the stealth frigate Yard 12652 (Udaygiri) on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing Project 17A warship program.
Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, Udaygiri is the second of seven advanced frigates under construction as part of Project 17A — the successor to the Indian Navy’s Shivalik-class frigates. The ship was delivered in a record 37 months from its launch, underscoring India’s growing shipbuilding capabilities and emphasis on defense self-reliance.
Project 17A ships are designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and boast improved stealth, upgraded sensors and weaponry, and a modern propulsion system. Udaygiri, a reincarnation of the erstwhile INS Udaygiri, which was decommissioned in 2007, is tailored for multi-mission operations in blue-water environments and can counter both conventional and unconventional maritime threats.
“These new-generation warships reflect a quantum leap in our indigenous naval design and construction capabilities,” said an Indian Navy official.
The stealth frigate features a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, supersonic surface-to-surface missile systems, a medium-range surface-to-air missile system, a 76 mm main gun, and a suite of rapid-fire close-in weapons. The hull design is 4.54 percent larger than that of its predecessor, enhancing both stealth and seakeeping abilities. The ship is also equipped with a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
Udaygiri’s construction supports the Indian government’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) initiative, with significant contributions from over 200 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Indigenous firms supplied the majority of the ship’s weapons and sensor systems.
The shipbuilding effort has also delivered significant economic benefits, generating direct employment for approximately 4,000 workers and an additional 10,000 through ancillary industries.
The remaining five frigates in the P17A class are under construction at MDL in Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. They are expected to be delivered progressively by the end of 2026.
 on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the country's ongoing Project 17A warship program.){kind=link}