INS Udaygiri – Project 17A Stealth Frigate

INS Udaygiri, a symbol of India's expanding indigenous naval capabilities, was officially delivered to the Indian Navy on July 1, 2025. This vessel is the second in the series of seven stealth frigates under Project 17A, strengthening the Navy’s blue-water operational reach.

About

Named after a previous Indian Navy warship, the original INS Udaygiri, a steam-powered ship, decommissioned in 2007 after 31 years of service.The new Udaygiri is a modern reincarnation designed for multi-mission roles in blue-water environments, capable of dealing with both conventional and non-conventional maritime threats. INS Udaygiri is the third ship in the Project 17A class, an advanced variant of the Shivalik-class stealth frigates. These ships are being built with improved stealth features, advanced sensors, and better automation.

Missile Systems

• Supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missile System
  Enables long-range precision strike capability against surface targets.

  Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) System
  Provides area air defence against enemy aircraft, drones, and incoming missiles.

Naval Guns and Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS)

• 76 mm Naval Gun
  Used for surface and aerial threats, including shore bombardment.

  30 mm and 12.7 mm Rapid-Fire Guns
  Serve as Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) for close-range defence against fast-approaching threats like speedboats, drones, or missiles.

Role and Strategic Importance

• Part of India's vision to build a self-reliant and modern blue-water navy.

  It is Designed for multi-mission operations, capable of engaging both conventional and non-conventional threats.

  It Operates in Blue Water environments, safeguarding India’s maritime interests across distant seas.

What is Project 17A?

• Project 17 Alpha (P-17A) is an Indian Navy initiative started in 2019 to build a new series of stealth guided-missile frigates.

  The frigates are being constructed by:

  • Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai

  • Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata

Key Features

• Stealth Design:

  • Incorporates radar-absorbent coatings and a low-observable hull shape to reduce detectability.

  • Employs technology to reduce the ship’s infrared signature.

  These features enable the ships to approach enemy targets undetected, enhancing survivability and tactical advantage.

Ships in the Series

• The first ship, INS Nilgiri, was launched in 2019.

  The second ship, INS Udaygiri, was launched in May 2022 and expected to be commissioned around 2025.

  INS Taragiri, the third ship in India's Project 17A (P-17A) stealth frigate program:

  In total, seven P-17A frigates are under various stages of construction at MDL and GRSE.

Strategic and Economic Benefits

• The project boosts economic development and employment generation for Indian shipyards and their ancillary industries.

  Approximately 75% of orders for Project 17A components have been placed with indigenous firms, including many MSMEs.

  This significantly supports Atmanirbhar Bharat by promoting self-reliance in complex frontline warship construction.

  It elevates India’s status in the global shipbuilding industry, showcasing its capability to design and build advanced stealth warships indigenously.