INS Mahendragiri

INS Mahendragiri is a Nilgiri-class (Project-17 Alpha) frigate of the Indian Navy. It was built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai and was formally launched by Sudesh Dhankhar, wife of Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar on 1 September 2023.

Named after a mountain peak of the Eastern Ghats of Orissa, Mahendragiri is the seventh and final ship of the P-17A Frigates, which are the advanced version of Shivalik-class frigates with enhanced stealth features, upgraded weapons and sensors and improved platform management systems on-board. Mahendragiri, which entered the waters of Arabian Sea in September is parked at the Wet Basins of the MDL following the launch for remaining outfitting and trials along with the three ships of her class.

Mahendragiri is internally designed by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and the indigenously designed ship has state of the art weapons, enhanced stealth features, sensors, and platform management systems. The warship is 149 m long and 17.8 wide; it reaches speeds of up to 28 knots. INS Vindhyagiri (2023), the sixth Project 17A warship was launched by President Droupadi Murmu at Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, on 17 August 2023.