INS Mahendragiri, sixth Project 17A stealth frigate, commissioned at Visakhapatnam
The Indian Navy inducted INS Mahendragiri, the sixth Project 17A stealth frigate, into its Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam on 11 July 2026 in the presence of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh.
Summary
INS Mahendragiri was inducted into the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 11 July 2026, at a ceremony presided over by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh. The frigate is the sixth Project 17A stealth frigate inducted in about 1.5 years, after INS Nilgiri (January 2025), INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri (August 2025), INS Taragiri (April 2026) and INS Dunagiri (June 2026). Designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, the ship has over 75% indigenous content, displaces about 6,670 tonnes and can reach 28 knots. INS Mahendragiri can be equipped with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and carries medium-range surface-to-air missiles, torpedo launchers and a multi-role helicopter.
Key facts
- Commissioned
- 11 July 2026, Visakhapatnam (Eastern Fleet)
- Presided by
- Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh
- Class
- Project 17A stealth frigate — sixth of the series
- Earlier P17A ships
- Nilgiri (Jan 2025), Udaygiri & Himgiri (Aug 2025), Taragiri (Apr 2026), Dunagiri (Jun 2026)
- Design / Builder
- Warship Design Bureau / Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai
- Specs
- >75% indigenous; ~6,670 tonnes; up to 28 knots
- Missile
- Can carry BrahMos
Practice MCQs 4 questions
INS Mahendragiri, commissioned on 11 July 2026, is the sixth frigate of which project?
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Correct answer: C — Project 17A
INS Mahendragiri is the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate inducted into the Indian Navy.
INS Mahendragiri was inducted into which fleet of the Indian Navy?
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Correct answer: A — Eastern Fleet
The ship was inducted into the Eastern Fleet at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Which was the first ship of the Project 17A series, commissioned in January 2025?
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Correct answer: D — INS Nilgiri
The first ship of the series, INS Nilgiri, was commissioned in January 2025.
Consider the following statements about INS Mahendragiri: 1. It was designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau. 2. It was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata. 3. It has over 75% indigenous content and a displacement of about 6,670 tonnes. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: INS Mahendragiri was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai.