India To Launch Its New Warship Mahendragiri Tomorrow In Mumbai

India is all set to launch its new warship, Mahendragiri, at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, on 1 September 2023, the Indian Navy mentioned in a statement.

Mahendragiri happens to be the seventh and the last stealth frigate that belongs to Project 17A — four warships are currently being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, and the rest are at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, following the project.

A warship’s introduction marks a huge milestone in its construction and refers to the ship entering the water for the first time.

India’s President Droupadi Murmu launched Vindhyagiri, the sixth vessel belonging to Project 17A, at GRSE on 17 August.

The unveiling of Mahendragiri is an appropriate testament to the incredible progress the nation has made in coming up with a self-reliant, expert naval force, the statement specified.

Project 17A frigates follow the Project 17 (belonging to the Shivalik class) frigates, with enhanced stealth features, improved sensors and weapons, and better platform management systems.

The five previous warships associated with Project 17A were launched from 2019 to 2022. The latest comes when self-reliance in defence is a priority for the government and when the power dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region (abbreviation IOR) are changing with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (abbreviated PLAN) focusing on boosting its footprint.

The warships that belong to Project 17A are in various stages of their construction and are also likely to be delivered to the navy from 2024 to 2026.

References: Hindustan Times, The Tribune

India To Launch Its New Warship Mahendragiri Tomorrow In Mumbai appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News