'Himgiri' and 'Udaygiri'

INS Udaygiri has been built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai, while Himgiri has been constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata. A notable fact is that Udaygiri is the 100th warship designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. Weighing around 6,700 tons, these ships are larger and more advanced than the Shivalik-class frigates. Both are equipped with stealth-guided missiles, indigenously designed, and their structure is such that they appear less visible on radar.

The Indian Navy is set to induct two advanced indigenous warships, Udaygiri and Himgiri, into service. Constantly enhancing its capabilities, the Indian Navy has become a source of concern for adversarial nations like China and Pakistan. The Navy has evolved into a multidimensional force capable of countering both traditional and non-traditional threats. Its active counter-piracy operations in the western Indian Ocean and recent deployments for securing global shipping lanes have earned it international recognition. Compared to this, Pakistan’s naval capacity is no match for India’s. On August 26, the Navy will commission two highly modern stealth frigates—Udaygiri (F35) and Himgiri (F34)—at the same time. For the first time, two such warships built by two major Indian shipyards will be inducted simultaneously.

These ships are powered by a combined diesel or gas propulsion system that uses both diesel engines and gas turbines to drive controllable-pitch propellers. They are managed through an integrated platform management system. Their weapon systems include supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm main gun, 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems, and anti-submarine warfare equipment. Their design enables them to evade radar detection effectively.

Fitted with diesel engines, gas turbines, modern missiles, naval guns, and anti-submarine weapons, these vessels represent the next generation of Indian Navy stealth warships, built under Project 17A. More than 200 Indian companies participated in their construction, providing over 4,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs. The launch of Udaygiri and Himgiri demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to self-reliance in ship design and construction. Following these, the Navy will launch other indigenous vessels in 2025, such as the destroyer INS Surat, the frigate INS Nilgiri, the submarine INS Vagsheer, the ASW Shallow Water Craft INS Arnala, and the diving support vessel INS Nistar.

According to the Navy, these warships symbolize India’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision. Their induction will strengthen India’s hold over the Indian Ocean. With these two ships, India will not only be able to monitor the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal but also closely track Chinese movements as far as the Malacca Strait. This sends a direct message to both China and Pakistan.

China, in recent years, has been expanding its presence in the Indian Ocean, particularly through port facilities in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and along African coasts. Meanwhile, Chinese naval activities at Pakistan’s Gwadar Port have been a cause of concern for India. Himgiri and Udaygiri are not just warships—they are symbols of India’s self-confidence, technological advancement, and its steady march toward becoming a global power.