Project 17A Frigate Himgiri: History, Technical Facts & UPSC Notes

Project 17A is a program that builds a range of advanced stealth-type anti-ship guided-missile frigates of the Indian Navy, which was initiated in 2019. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) construct these frigates keeping in mind that they should embody certain stealth features, including radar-absorbent paint coating and minimisation of infrared signatures, thus making them difficult to locate by opponents. The project will ensure the modernisation of the Indian Navy by integrating multi-mission ship platforms with sophisticated weapons and sensors.

Project 17A is crucial for UPSC as it highlights India's indigenous stealth frigate program, showcasing self-reliance in defence and advanced naval technology. It falls under GS Paper 3, covering security, defence technology, and indigenous manufacturing for strategic maritime security. Join the UPSC coaching today and boost your preparation.

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What Is Project 17A?

Project 17A (Project 17 Alpha) is an Indian Navy initiative to build seven advanced stealth guided-missile frigates with improved stealth, weapons, and sensors. These frigates, constructed by Mazagon Dock and GRSE, enhance multi-mission capabilities with low radar and infrared signatures for modern naval warfare.

Latest Development

• Joint Commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri (26 August 2025): The Indian Navy commissioned Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigate, INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34), for the first time together at Visakhapatnam. It is the first twin induction of major surface warships built in two separate shipyards, and it is the result of flawless coordination between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), Mumbai, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underlined that it is a testament to India's increasing indigenization in the designing and construction of warships, and these are the 100th and 101st warships designed by India in the Warship Design Bureau. They carry more than 75% indigenous content, and the involvement of several hundreds of MSMEs, a classic example of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
• He dubbed the vessels "floating F‑35s" and said their advanced sensors and weapon systems make them "invincible guardians of our seas". The double induction reflects India's resolve to end its reliance on overseas shipyards for future warships.

About

• Himgiri is a modernised version of the former INS Himgiri, a Leander-class frigate decommissioned in 2005 after 30 years of service.
  • Himgiri is equipped with BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles and Barak 8 anti-aircraft missiles, representing a significant leap in naval strike and defensive capabilities. 
  • Earlier, INS Nilgiri and INS Udaygiri were launched under Project 17A.
• Project 17A (P17A) frigates are multi-mission platforms designed to address current and future maritime challenges.
  • P17A ships feature advanced weapons and sensors over the P17 (Shivalik) class, including supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, and rapid-fire Close-in Weapon Systems. 
  • P17A is equipped with a Combined Diesel or Gas propulsion system that drives a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft and a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). 
  • Project 17A frigates mark a significant leap in indigenous ship design, stealth, and combat capability. 

What are the 7 ships under Project 17A?

The seven ships under Project 17A (Nilgiri-class stealth frigates) are:

1. INS Nilgiri
2. INS Himgiri
3. INS Udaygiri
4. INS Dunagiri
5. INS Taragiri
6. INS Vindhyagiri
7. INS Mahendragiri

They are being built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers for the Indian Navy.

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History of Project 17A

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), India’s central procurement body subservient to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), approved a proposal in June 2009 for the acquisition of 7 stealthy frigates – codenamed “Project 17A” – in keeping with the Indian Navy’s aim to build a fleet of 160 ships. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), India's topmost decision-making body on defence and issues of national security, approved the plan for the "development cum construction" of the 7 frigates in September 2012. The Indian Navy initially supported a plan to build the first two frigates at an overseas shipyard to shorten the project's total construction time; nonetheless, this recommendation was overturned by India's Ministry of Defence (MoD), which preferred local frigate manufacture.

The 7 frigates were intended to be a "follow-on series" to the Shivalik class frigates (Project 17), which were also being constructed for the Indian Navy simultaneously, except with more advanced capabilities. The seven frigates’ schematic design was finished in mid-2013. The CCS officially authorised the programme in February 2015, which included building seven specified frigates over a five-year period.

Project 17A – Ship-Wise Timeline

Technical Facts of Project 17A

• Type: Guided Missile Frigate
• Displacement: 6,670 tonnes (6,560 long tons)
• Length: 149 metres (488 ft 10 in)
• Beam: 17.8 metres (58 ft 5 in)
• Draft: 5.22 metres (17 ft 2 in)
• Depth: 9.9 metres (32 ft 6 in)
• Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h)
• Range: 2,500 nmi (4,600 km) at 28 kn (52 km/h) and 5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 16–18 kn (30–33 km/h)
• Crew: 150 (Including 35 officers)

Detailed Weapons, Sensors & Propulsion

Armament:

• 4 × 8-cell VLS for 32 Barak‑8 LR-SAMs
• 1 × 8-cell VLS for 8 BrahMos SSMs
• 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm naval gun; 4 × AK‑630M CIWS
• Anti-Submarine Warfare: 2 × triple-tube torpedo launchers; 2 × RBU‑6000 rocket launchers.

Sensors & Electronic Warfare:

• Radar: EL/M‑2248 MF‑STAR (S-band AESA); Indra LTR‑25 L‑Band surveillance radar
• Sonar: BEL HUMSA‑NG (bow-mounted)
• Combat Management: CMS‑17A
• EW & Decoys: DRDO Shakti suite (ESM/ECM + RFPS); 4 × Kavach decoy launchers; 2 × Maareech torpedo-countermeasure systems.

Propulsion:

• CODAG: 2 × GE LM2500 gas turbines (~30,200 kW each); 2 × MAN 12V28/33D diesel engines (~6,000 kW each)
• Drives Controllable-Pitch Propellers (CPP) via Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).

Aviation Capability: Enclosed hangar capable of accommodating one multi-role helicopter (HAL Dhruv or Sea King Mk. 42B)

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Difference between P-17 and P-17A

The P-17A is a derivation of the Shivalik class frigates (P-17), a three-ship multi-mission frigate type that currently serves as the Indian Navy's workhorse frigates; both classes have significant design similarities: –

• In contrast to the P-17, which utilises an outdated single-arm missile launcher, the P-17A is the first class of frigates within the Indian Navy to deploy vertical launching system (VLS) cells for shooting its surface-to-air missiles.
• The P-17A and the P-17 have comparable hull geometry; nonetheless, the P-17A's hull measurements, especially its length and breadth, are around 4-5 per cent larger than the P-17's.
• Dimensions & Design: P‑17A vessels are around 4–5% larger in length and beam compared to the Shivalik-class (P‑17), offering improved stealth, internal volume, and signature suppression.
• Launch Systems: Shift from older single-arm missile launchers on P‑17 to advanced VLS systems on P‑17A for both Barak‑8 and BrahMos systems.
• Construction & Combat Systems: The P‑17A uses modular construction, and features advanced systems such as MF‑STAR radar and CMS-17A, which were not part of the Shivalik class setup.

Design and Development of Nilgiri-class Frigates

The frigates have been designed by the Directorate of Naval Design (DND), an inner Indian Navy organisation responsible for creating the warships. The DND is also known for contributing to the design of various Indian warships, including the INS Vikrant, India's first domestically produced aircraft carrier, the Arihant class submarines, India's first domestically produced nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, and the Shivalik class frigates. The architecture of the frigate was approved by the Department of Defence in 2013, and it was first shown to the people in April 2018 during the "DEFEXPO 2018" defence exhibition held in Chennai, India.

The Nilgiri-class represents India’s first major warship class built using Integrated Modular Construction (IMC), a block‑based assembly method that improves efficiency and reduces build time. Fincantieri provided technical assistance for this methodology.

Achieved over 75% indigenous content, involving 200+ MSMEs, thereby supporting employment and aligning with Make in India / Aatmanirbhar Bharat goals.

Read the article on the National Industrial Corridor Programme NICP!

Conclusion

Project 17A strengthens India's naval power with advanced stealth frigates, boosting maritime security, self-reliance, and indigenous shipbuilding through modern technology, weapons, and sustainable defence capabilities.

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