Visakhapatnam: India on Saturday significantly enhanced its maritime combat capability with the commissioning of the indigenously built stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri, the sixth warship under the Project 17A programme, as the government underlined that military preparedness now requires a blend of advanced technologies and robust conventional capabilities.

Commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Visakhapatnam, the 6,670-tonne frontline warship carries more than 75 per cent indigenous content and is equipped with advanced stealth features, supersonic surface-to-surface missile capability, medium-range air defence systems, anti-submarine warfare weapons, electronic warfare suites and network-centric combat systems. Designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, the vessel is capable of undertaking fleet air defence, anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, maritime surveillance, interdiction missions and humanitarian assistance.

The induction of INS Mahendragiri reflects the accelerating pace of India's naval modernisation, with six Project 17A frigates entering service within just 18 months. Navy officials said the programme has also achieved major production efficiencies, including a nearly 50 per cent reduction in the launch-to-delivery timeline and a substantial cut in overall construction time, signalling growing maturity in India's indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem.

Addressing the ceremony, Rajnath Singh argued that while artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, drones and hypersonic weapons are reshaping future conflicts, conventional military strength remains the foundation of national defence. He described INS Mahendragiri as a symbol of India's commitment to a technologically advanced and combat-ready Navy capable of safeguarding national interests across the Indian Ocean Region.

The commissioning also carries strategic significance amid heightened geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific. Singh reiterated India's role as a "net security provider" and cited the Navy's recent escort operations protecting merchant shipping during the West Asia crisis as evidence of its expanding regional responsibilities. With its enhanced endurance, advanced weapon systems and blue-water capability, INS Mahendragiri is expected to strengthen India's maritime deterrence while reinforcing the government's broader push for defence self-reliance and regional security leadership.