Defence★ Must Know

Navy to commission sixth Project 17A stealth frigate Mahendragiri at Visakhapatnam

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Monday, 6 July 2026 2 min readSource: indianexpress.comArticle 12 of 26

The Indian Navy is set to commission its sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, Mahendragiri (F38), at Visakhapatnam later this week. The warship was designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai. It features advanced stealth characteristics, enhanced survivability, a reduced radar signature and a high degree of automation, and is powered by a combined diesel or gas propulsion system. The frigate carries indigenous and state-of-the-art surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, electronic warfare and anti-submarine warfare systems, and an integrated combat management system. With over 75% indigenous content, its construction engaged numerous MSMEs. The frigate is named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats and is the first naval warship to bear the name.

Key Facts & Details

8 points

1
The Indian Navy will commission Mahendragiri (F38), its sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, at Visakhapatnam later this week.
2
It was designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
3
The frigate has advanced stealth features, a reduced radar signature, and is powered by a combined diesel or gas propulsion system.
4
It is armed with indigenous surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, electronic warfare, anti-submarine warfare systems and an integrated combat management system.
5
With over 75% indigenous content, the ship is named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats and is the first naval warship to bear the name.

Deep Dive

+
Mahendragiri is capable of anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, plus maritime security, power projection, HADR and search-and-rescue missions.
+
The construction engaged a wide network of Indian industries, including numerous micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), strengthening the defence industrial base.
+
The commissioning marks another milestone in the Project 17A programme, reinforcing India's position as a leading indigenous warship-building nation.

Exam Focus

Which shipyard built the Project 17A stealth frigate Mahendragiri, and where is it being commissioned?

Exam Relevance & Angle

Warship commissionings are recurring defence-GK items in exams, where the ship's name, its class (Project 17A), the builder (MDL), the indigenous-content figure and the naming inspiration are all precise, frequently-asked facts.

Target Exams

SBI POSBI ClerkIBPS POIBPS ClerkRBI Grade BSSC CGLSSC CHSLSSC CPORRB NTPCUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

Project 17A is the Indian Navy's programme of advanced stealth frigates that follow the earlier Shivalik-class (Project 17) ships, incorporating improved stealth, weapons and sensors. A stealth frigate is a multi-role warship designed with a reduced radar cross-section to evade detection. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, is a leading defence public-sector shipyard, while the Navy's Warship Design Bureau handles in-house warship design. India has pushed indigenisation of naval construction under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' initiatives, aiming for a self-reliant 'Builder's Navy' that reduces import dependence and strengthens the domestic defence industrial base.