India’s naval modernization takes a powerful leap with the commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, two state-of-the-art Project 17A frigates. These Indian Navy stealth ships symbolize a fusion of indigenous defense capabilities, naval power enhancement, and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat defense initiative, reinforcing India’s ambition in blue water operations and maritime dominance.
INS Udaygiri, Himgiri Commissioned: India Augments Naval Power with Twin Stealth Frigates
In what was a milestone in India’s naval forces, the Indian Navy welcomed two of its most advanced stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri. This historically significant double commissioning reflects not only a technological leap, but also a commitment from a country that is progressively striving for self-reliance in defence. A double delivery built at different shipyards, and one that is packed with far superior firepower, the event marks the dawn of a new era in India’s naval strength and strategic decision-making independence.
A First for Indian Navy
The Indian Navy for the first time in its history commissioned two major warships simultaneously. The INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are fourth-generation warships belonging to the advanced Project 17A class of frigates and are successors of the Shivalik-class platforms. What makes the development enormous is also the fact that Udaygiri and Himgiri were built in entirely unrelated yards – Mumbai based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Kolkata based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) respectively.
Symbolic Alliance of Indian Shipyards
The alliance of two of India’s major ship-building centres is not only symbolic. It demonstrates India’s influence in undertaking complex naval engineering projects on varied locations simultaneously. The commissioning of these stealth ships marks a significant milestone for defence shipbuilding in India and adds a fillip to the ‘Make in India’ initiative and therefore creates a ‘buzz’ for Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives in the defence sector.
Project 17A: Next Step in Naval Engineering
What is Indian Navy’s Project 17A?
Project 17A is the Indian Navy’s most advanced indigenous development programme and under the project, seven stealth frigates equipped with latest weapons and sensor systems are being constructed to improve the navy’s capabilities. These multi-purpose warships and have capablilities for the Blue Water (open ocean) operations. They are also very useful as they are able to provide a variety of missions such as anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic tracking, and long-range surveillance.
INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri – Cutting-Edge Stealth Frigates
INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are the most recent additions to this illustrious list. They are decked out with super-stealth features that dramatically cut down on the radar signature. Their design is marked by modularity, resulting in faster assembly and integration. Udaygiri has the distinction of being the fastest warship to have undergone sea trials and be commissioned in the class – a clear reflection of well-practiced modular ship construction processes that Indian yards now practice and have honed.
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Capabilities of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri
What are the features of INS Himgiri and Udaygiri?
These frigates are powerful testaments of both time-proven and the newest in naval technologies. These ships are armed with the best technology available with Combat Management System and will also be installed with modern surveillance systems in the form of the Integrated Platform Management System. The ship has a CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) propulsion system, designed to reach a maximum[4] speed of 28 knots and a range of at least 7000 Nm. The Integrated Platform Management System offers the possibility to watch over and control all major ship functions from a single centralised point, enhancing in this way operation efficiency and safety.
Armed with Indigenous Defense Technology
The ships come armed with indigenous weapons and sensors which can cater to a broad range of warfare at sea. They consist of surface-to-surface missiles, anti-submarine rockets, state of the art sonar systems and electronic warfare equipment. Notably, nearly 75 per cent of the systems onboard belongs to Indian firms, which include micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This is much higher level of indigenization, testament to the changed gears in Indian defense production towards indigenization.
Bringing the Navy Back from the Dead with Modern Technology
INS Udaygiri and I NS Himgiri are named after illustrious predecessors who had faithfully served India for over 30 years before their decommissioning. Renaming these ships is more than a ceremonial act, it links both India’s annals of maritime glory from the past to the future-ready capabilities. This mix of tradition and technology would appeal to the patriotism and perception of continuity attached to Indian maritime polity.
A Tribute to Naval Heritage and Design Milestone
Pivotal:IUdaygiri is the 100th ship designed by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. This accomplishment serves to highlight the Navy’s internal capability and maturation as a credible entity in the field of indigenous ship design. In each addition, the Bureau not only finses its technical knowlwdge but it also adds strategic depth to India at sea.
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Boosts to Naval Strength and Geopolitical Influence
Why INS Udaygiri, INS Himgiri are important for India?
India being an oceanic nation is globally present in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the focus of maritime security has vital importance in national safety and defense line of readiness. The Indian Navy’s dominance of critical sea-lanes and its ability to deal swiftly with regional threats have been bolstered with the commissioning of these two stealth frigates. Both ships will be inducted into the Navy’s Eastern Fleet – a command that is oriented towards South East Asia and the western Pacific Ocean.
Strategic Integration in Eastern Fleet
The Eastern Fleet is crucial to presence and preparedness operations in the eastern seaboard and beyond.” These sophisticated ships enhance the fleet’s multi-domain combat powers and allow India to push its case on heavily contested waters.
Global Strategy and Maritime Diplomacy
These warships have also been included into multilateral naval exercises/deployments and humanitarian missions, and serve as a testimony to India’s growing global strategic partnerships. With more operational freedom in the high seas and a more robust diplomacy, India is seen as a more responsible, capable maritime power.
Economic and Industrial Effects of Project 17A Frigates
Udaygiri and Himgiri’s commissioning is a big boost for India’s defence making capabilities. The ships are the products of hundreds of domestic suppliers, from heavy manufacturing plants to precision parts makers. Many of the MSMEs who participated in making them, are now getting immense learning and exposing their capabilities, so you are pushing up the competencies of that industry.
Building Local Defense Ecosystem
India’s policy of increasing indigenous content has paid off. From engine control systems to electronic warfare suites, the plants that once simply imported such systems now produce them in house, or with limited foreign assistance. The payoff is not only cost reductions but also the development of trained jobs and local intellectual property.
A Future-Facing Navy
These are not just two hulls being added onto the naval register. The commissioning of INS UDAYGIRI and INS HIMGIRI is not just addition of another ship. It is a piece of a larger cutting-edge doctrine in the Indian Navy that aims for superiority not only through numbers but through smarter design, better systems integration and digital prowess.
Path to Becoming a Net Security Provider
This ties in with India’s aspiration of being a net security provider in the region. While with increasing blue water aspirations and an unflinching emphasis on indigenous manufacturing, these new stealth frigates will be the implements of a confident, modern and self-reliant Navy.
Readiness in Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain
With threats changing and the balance of power tilting in the Indo-Pacific region, the naval preparedness of India is becoming increasingly consequential. The twin frigates being commissioned and deployed successfully are a testimony that this nation is not just ready, but willing to protect its interests in the high sea.
FAQs On INS Udaygiri and Himgiri Commissioning
What is the significance of commissioning INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri?
The commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri signifies India's enhanced naval power and commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat defense. These are advanced Project 17A frigates built indigenously, exhibiting stealth capabilities, superior firepower, and advanced electronic and combat systems.
What are the key features of INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri?
INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri are equipped with advanced technology like the Combat Management System, Integrated Platform Management System, indigenous surface-to-surface missiles, anti-submarine weaponry, stealth features, and a CODOG propulsion system capable of 28 knots.
How do these Project 17A frigates strengthen India’s maritime capabilities?
The INS Udaygiri and Himgiri enhance India’s maritime reach with Blue Water operational capabilities, electronic warfare systems, modular stealth design, and strategic deployment in the Eastern Fleet helping secure the Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific seas.
How much of INS Udaygiri and Himgiri is indigenized?
Approximately 75% of the systems on INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are indigenously produced, involving Indian firms and MSMEs. This highlights a milestone in Indian defense shipbuilding and demonstrates progress in domestic innovation under the Make in India initiative.
Reference
INS Udaygiri and Himgiri Commissioned: India’s Twin Stealth Frigates Boost Naval Power
