Indian Navy to Commission Two Indigenous Warships in July

Following the recent addition of three naval platforms to its fleet, the Indian Navy is set to incorporate two more indigenous warships in July. This initiative highlights the Navy's rapid modernization efforts and the country's growing shipbuilding capabilities. The Navy is preparing to commission the stealth guided-missile frigate INS Mahendragiri and the anti-submarine warfare vessel INS Malwan next month. This move will enhance India's maritime combat capabilities amid evolving security challenges in the Indian Ocean region. These two ships will join the recently inducted INS Dunagiri, INS Sandhayak, and INS Agra, reflecting the Navy's ongoing commitment to bolster its fleet with domestically produced platforms under the government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.

The seventh and final warship of Project 17A, the INS Mahendragiri, is scheduled to be commissioned in Visakhapatnam. Designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, this frigate marks a significant milestone in India's indigenous warship manufacturing program, utilizing approximately 75% indigenous materials. Equipped with advanced stealth features, the vessel is designed for a variety of operations across air, surface, and underwater domains. It is armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, a medium-range surface-to-air missile system, and various advanced sensors and weapons, enhancing the Navy's capabilities for anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine missions.

The Navy is also set to commission the INS Malwan, the second ship under the 'Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft' (ASW-SWC) program in Kochi. Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited and delivered earlier this year, this vessel is primarily designed for underwater surveillance and anti-submarine operations in coastal areas. Weighing approximately 1,100 tons and measuring 80 meters in length, it is equipped with torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, an advanced sonar suite, and modern radar systems. In addition to anti-submarine tasks, it is capable of conducting low-intensity maritime operations and mine warfare missions. Named after the historic coastal town of Malwan in Maharashtra, this ship revives the legacy of an older naval minesweeper that served in the Indian Navy until 2003. Over 80% of its components are sourced from domestic suppliers, including many micro, small, and medium enterprises within India's defense industry.