Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has delivered Yard 12652, the stealth frigate Udaygiri, to the Indian Navy. Udaygiri is the second ship in the seven-vessel Project 17A series and was completed in 37 months from its launch in May 2022.
Project 17A is a follow-on to the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates and involves parallel construction at MDL in Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. These ships are designed for blue-water operations and are intended to counter both conventional and unconventional maritime threats.
The Project 17A frigates feature a hull that is approximately 4.54 percent larger than that of their predecessors and are fitted with an upgraded suite of weapons and sensors. These include supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm main gun, and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems. Propulsion is based on a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) configuration, with each shaft powered by a diesel engine or gas turbine, connected to controllable pitch propellers and managed through an integrated platform management system.
Construction follows an “integrated” method that incorporates extensive pre-outfitting during the block assembly stage to reduce build times. According to MDL, the program has generated direct employment for approximately 4,000 personnel and indirect employment for around 10,000 more through ancillary industries. More than 200 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have participated in the program.
Udaygiri shares its name with an earlier Leander-class frigate that was decommissioned in August 2007 after 31 years of service. The remaining five ships in the Project 17A series are currently under construction and are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited is a defence public sector undertaking based in Mumbai. The company specializes in building warships and submarines for the Indian Navy and supports various projects under India’s indigenous naval manufacturing initiatives.