By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Sept 1:
“Mahendragiri” the seventh and last stealth frigate of Project 17A was launched at the hands of Dr (Smt.) Sudesh Dhankhar, wife of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar, at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), located in South Mumbai on Friday.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar who was the chief guest at the launch ceremony said that it was befitting that the launch took place in a vibrant city like Mumbai. “I am sure that Mahendragiri, once commissioned, will proudly fly the national tricolour flag across the oceans, as an ambassador of India’s maritime might. I congratulate our force with full confidence. They will continue improving themselves for security of the world at large. With a strong presence of over 10,000 women across the army, navy and air force, the Indian armed forces have made considerable strides in gender equality,” he added.
“Mahendragiri” has been named after a mountain peak in Eastern Ghats located in Orissa. These warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.
It is a technologically advanced warship and stands as a symbol of India’s determination to embrace its rich naval heritage, while propelling itself towards a future of indigenous defence capabilities, an official statement read. The frigate is expected to be commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2027.
The ship’s air defence capability, designed to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles will revolve around the vertical launch and long range surface to air missile system. Two 30 mm rapid-fire guns will provide the ship with close-in-defence capability while an SRGM Gun (Super Rapid Gun Mount) will enable her to provide effective naval gunfire support. Indigenously developed triple tube light weight torpedo launchers and rocket launchers will add punch to the ship’s anti-submarine capability.
Under the Project 17A program, a total of four ships by M/s MDL and three ships by M/s
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers(GRSE),Kolkata (West Bengal), are under construction. The first six ships of the project have been launched so far by MDL and GRSE, between 2019-2023.
Project 17A ships have been designed in-house by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, the pioneer organisation for all warship design activities. Aligning with the country’s resolute commitment to “‘AatmaNirbharata” (self-reliance), a substantial 75% of the orders for equipment and systems of Project 17A ships have been ordered on indigenous firms, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
