**Policy Summary: Project 17A Indigenous Stealth Frigate Udaygiri Delivery to Indian Navy**
On July 1, 2025, Yard 12652 Udaygiri, the second ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate program, was delivered to the Indian Navy. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), Udaygiri is a follow-on to the Shivalik class Project 17 frigates. The vessel is one of seven P17A frigates currently under construction at MDL, Mumbai, and GRSE, Kolkata. These multi-mission frigates are designed for blue water operations and are equipped to address both conventional and non-conventional threats relevant to India's maritime interests.
Udaygiri represents an upgraded iteration of its predecessor, the former INS Udaygiri, which served for 31 years before decommissioning in 2007. The P17A ships feature enhanced stealth capabilities and state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, marking a significant advancement over the P17 class. These vessels reflect advancements in the Indian Navy's in-house design capabilities at the Warship Design Bureau. The construction process employs integrated construction techniques, including extensive pre-outfitting, to shorten build times. Udaygiri was delivered in 37 months from launching.
The hull of P17A ships is geosymmetrically larger by 4.54 vis-vis P 17. Key features include a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) main propulsion plant with a Diesel Engine and Gas turbine, Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) on each shaft, and an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). The weapon suite includes a supersonic Surface-to-Surface missile system, a Medium Range Surface-to-Air missile system, a 76 mm gun, and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm rapid-fire close-in Weapon Systems.
The project supports the "Aatmanirbharta" (self-reliance) initiative in shipbuilding and promotes employment generation. The construction of Udaygiri demonstrates the nation's capabilities in ship design, construction, and engineering, supported by a strong industrial ecosystem including over 200 MSMEs. Major weapons and sensors are sourced from indigenous Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The shipbuilding requirements have generated direct employment for approximately 4,000 personnel and indirect ancillary employment for over 10,000 personnel. The project's positive impacts include self-reliance, economic development, employment generation, and growth of MSMEs and the ancillary ecosystem. The remaining five ships of the P17A Class are at various stages of construction at MDL, Mumbai, and GRSE, Kolkata, with deliveries expected progressively by the end of 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: The Indian government ministry responsible for national security and defence.
Project 17A: A program by the Indian Navy to build a class of stealth frigates.
Udaygiri: The second ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate class.
Indian Navy: The naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL): An Indian shipyard company where Udaygiri was built.
Shivalik class Project 17 frigates: A class of frigates that Project 17A is a follow-on to.
MDL, Mumbai: Mazagon Dock Limited, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, where some of the P17A frigates are under construction.
GRSE, Kolkata: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, located in Kolkata, West Bengal, where some of the P17A frigates are under construction.
Ministry of Defence
PROJECT 17A INDIGENOUS STEALTH FRIGATE
UDAYGIRI DELIVERED TO INDIAN NAVY
Posted On: 01 JUL 2025 5:16PM by PIB Delhi
Yard 12652 (Udaygiri), the second ship of Project 17A stealth frigate, being built at Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), was delivered to the Indian Navy on 01 July 2025. The Project is a follow-on
of the Shivalik class (Project 17) frigates active in service. Udaygiri is the second among the seven P17A
frigates under construction at MDL, Mumbai and GRSE, Kolkata. These multi-mission frigates are capable of
operating in a ‘Blue Water’ environment dealing with both conventional and non-conventional threats in the
area of India’s Maritime Interests. Udaygiri is a modern Avatar of its predecessor, erstwhile INS Udaygiri
which was a Steam Ship, decommissioned on 24 August 2007 after rendering 31 years of glorious service to
the nation.
P-17A ships have enhanced stealth features and fitted with ‘State of the Art’ weapons and sensors,
a significant upgrade from the P17 class. The ships represent a quantum leap in Indian Navy’s in-
house design capabilities at the Warship Design Bureau. The newly designed ships are also being
built employing the philosophy of ‘Integrated Construction’, which involves extensive pre-outfitting at
the Block stages to reduce the overall build periods. Udaygiri has been delivered to the Indian Navy,
in a record time of 37 months from the date of launching.
The hull of P17A ships is geo-symmetrically larger by 4.54 % vis-à-vis P 17. These ships are fitted
with an advanced weapon and sensors suite with enhanced ‘sleek and stealthy’ features compared
to the P 17 class. The ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) main
propulsion plants, comprising a Diesel Engine and Gas turbine, driving a Controllable Pitch
Propeller (CPP) on each shaft and a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System
(IPMS). The weapon suite comprises supersonic Surface-to-Surface missile system, Medium-
Range Surface to Air Missile system, 76 mm Gun, and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm rapid-
fire close-in Weapon Systems.
Aatmanirbharta in Ship Building and Employment Generation. The delivery of Udaygiri
showcases the nation’s ship design, ship construction and engineering prowess enabled by a
strong industrial ecosystem supported by over 200 MSMEs. The warship is fitted with major
weapons and sensors sourced from indigenous OEMs.
Plough Back. The shipbuilding requirements of the Project have led to direct employment
generation for about 4,000 personnel and more than 10,000 personnel through indirect/ ancillary
sources. The positive spin offs of the shipbuilding project included self-reliance, economic
development, employment generation, growth of MSMEs and ancillary ecosystem in the country.
The remaining five ships of the P 17A Class are at various stages of construction at MDL, Mumbai
and GRSE, Kolkata and would be delivered progressively by end 2026._____________________________________________________________
VM/ SKY 125/25(Release ID: 2141259)