Mumbai: The Indian Navy’s final frigate under Project 17A, Mahendragiri, was launched on Friday by the Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai. The warship is named after a mountain peak in the eastern Ghats of Odisha.
The launch ceremony was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and his wife Sudesh Dhankar, who launched the warship as ‘chief guests’. The vice president praised the Indian Navy for its technological advancement and maritime might. “I am sure that Mahendragiri, once commissioned, will proudly fly the tiranga (national tricolor) across the oceans, as an ambassador of India’s maritime might,” he said.
He also congratulated the Indian armed forces for their gender equality and said that they have made considerable strides with a strong presence of over 10,000 women across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
He said that the launch of Mahendragiri is a significant milestone in our maritime history. “It is the last of the 7 warships of the Nilgiri-class stealth frigates built under Project17A,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of middle-class morality in a country like India and gave the example of Pakistan to show the consequences of its lack. He said that morality has no role between the rich and the poor because morality dies in wealth and suffocates in poverty.
The launch ceremony was also graced by Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Some features of the warship are:
- It is the seventh and last ship under the Project 17A frigates. The first six ships were launched by MDL and GRSE between 2019 and 2023.
- It is a follow-on of Project 17 class frigates with improved stealth features, advanced weaponry, and sensors.
- It has been designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
- It is a symbol of India’s determination to embrace its rich naval heritage and propel itself toward a future of indigenous defense capabilities.
- It is aligned with ‘Aatma Nirbharta’, as 75 percent of the orders for equipment and systems of Project 17A ships have been ordered from indigenous firms, including MSMEs.
“The launch of Mahendragiri is an apt testament to the incredible progress our nation has made in building a self-reliant naval force,” the Navy said.’
