When the Indian Navy formally inducted INS Nilgiri and INS Udayagiri into service, it did more than expand its fleet strength—it marked a decisive step in India’s transformation into a truly modern, blue-water force capable of dominating not just regional seas but also distant oceans.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the induction ceremony on Tuesday at Visakhapatnam, home to the Eastern Naval Command.
These new-generation guided-missile frigates, part of the Project 17A stealth warship program, are not mere additions to the order of battle. They embody India’s strategic intent: to combine indigenous design, cutting-edge technology, and maritime doctrine into a fighting force that can handle the threats of the 21st century—whether lurking beneath the sea or emerging from the skies.
The Nilgiri-class frigates, of which Nilgiri and Udayagiri are the first to roll out, represent a quantum leap from their predecessors, the Shivalik-class. Designed and built in India under the Make in India initiative, these 149-meter-long warships feature:
- Stealth design that reduces radar, infrared, acoustic, and electromagnetic signatures, making them harder to detect.
- Versatile weapons systems, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and torpedoes, enabling them to fight in multiple domains simultaneously.
- State-of-the-art sensors and combat management systems, which allow them to track, engage, and neutralize threats from aircraft, submarines, and enemy warships.
- Advanced sonar suites that make them highly effective in anti-submarine warfare—crucial at a time when Chinese submarines have been patrolling the Indian Ocean.
Each vessel carries a crew of around 200, and thanks to high automation, operational efficiency is significantly improved. They are designed to sustain operations for extended durations, a hallmark of a true ocean-going navy.
The greatest strength of Nilgiri and Udayagiri lies in their multi-dimensional warfare capability.
- Underwater Threats: Equipped with advanced hull-mounted and towed-array sonars, the ships can detect hostile submarines at long ranges. Their torpedo launchers and ASW (anti-submarine warfare) rocket systems give them the ability to neutralize underwater threats before they close in.
- Surface Warfare: Armed with BrahMos and other advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, they can deliver devastating blows to enemy vessels at standoff distances. Their rapid-fire guns provide additional firepower for close-range encounters.
- Air Defense: With vertical launch surface-to-air missiles and high-tech radar systems, they form an aerial shield not just for themselves but also for carrier battle groups and merchant convoys sailing with them.
In a real war situation, these ships are designed to operate as nodes in a networked fleet, sharing data in real time with other warships, aircraft, and satellites. This turns the Indian Navy into a seamless combat web, capable of overwhelming adversaries with speed, precision, and coordination.
Globally, the Indian Navy is ranked third after the US and China—a recognition of its size, capabilities, and growing blue-water reach. With nearly 150 warships, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, and a formidable fleet air arm, the Navy is no longer confined to coastal defense. It is increasingly a deterrent force with the ability to project power, secure sea lanes, and provide humanitarian relief in distant waters.
The Indian Ocean is the artery of global trade—nearly 80% of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes through chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca. With Chinese naval forays expanding and piracy making sporadic returns, India’s role as the natural guardian of this ocean becomes critical. The Nilgiri-class frigates are, therefore, more than military assets—they are geopolitical tools, signaling India’s resolve to safeguard maritime commons.
What makes the induction of Nilgiri and Udayagiri particularly significant is the indigenous content—over 75% of the ships’ components are sourced from Indian industry. This not only reduces dependence on foreign suppliers but also builds self-reliance in a sensitive sector like defense.
Moreover, these ships are designed with future upgrades in mind. Modular construction allows integration of newer weapons, sensors, and even directed-energy weapons when they mature. In effect, the ships are not just current-generation platforms but also future-proofed assets that will remain relevant for decades.
The Indian Navy has long been the silent sentinel of India’s sovereignty. The induction of Nilgiri and Udayagiri adds sharp teeth to that role. Whether it is escorting commercial convoys, deterring adversaries in the Arabian Sea, or patrolling the South China Sea alongside strategic partners, these ships will be at the forefront of India’s maritime diplomacy and defense.
As geopolitical contestations sharpen in the Indo-Pacific, India’s warships will not just be symbols of power but also instruments of peace—assuring smaller nations of security, protecting trade flows, and upholding the rules-based order at sea.
The arrival of Nilgiri and Udayagiri is a reminder that naval strength is not built overnight. It is the outcome of decades of investment, design, and vision. By inducting these ships, India is telling the world that it is prepared not only to guard its own waters but also to shape the destiny of the Indian Ocean Region.
The Indian Navy has always prided itself on being a “builders’ navy”, and with these ships, it has reinforced that tradition. In a world where maritime dominance defines global power, India’s latest frigates are not just war machines—they are statements of intent.
