Mahendragiri, the final frigate of Project 17A, is set for its launch ceremony in Mumbai on September 1st. Dr. (Smt.) Sudesh Dhankhar, the spouse of the Honorable Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, will officiate the launch at the premises of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, as stated by the Indian Navy.
This momentous event underscores the remarkable strides that our nation has taken in establishing a self-reliant naval force. Mahendragiri stands as the seventh and ultimate stealth frigate within the Project 17A. Notably, four of these formidable warships are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, while the remaining vessels are being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, all under the umbrella of this project.
The launch of a warship signifies a moment of great significance during its construction journey, marking its inaugural entry into the water. The recent example of this was the launch of the sixth warship of Project 17A, named Vindhyagiri, which was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu at GRSE on August 17.
The statement released by the Navy emphasized that the launch of Mahendragiri speaks volumes about the remarkable advancements made by our nation in cultivating a self-sufficient naval prowess.
Project 17A frigates are an evolutionary step from the preceding Project 17 (Shivalik class) frigates, boasting enhanced stealth attributes, cutting-edge weaponry and sensors, along with sophisticated platform management systems. The various Project 17A warships are currently in distinct phases of construction and are anticipated to be handed over to the navy between 2024 and 2026.
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