Mumbai: Mahendragiri, India’s latest warship, will be launched here on September 1.
Indian Navy said in a statement that Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s wife Sudesh Dhankhar will do the honours at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
Mahendragiri is the seventh and last stealth frigate of Project 17A. Four warships are being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and the others at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
It’s a major boost to the Navy’s capabilities, as launch of a warship marks a significant milestone in its construction as the vessel is ready to enter the water for the first time.
Earlier this month, President Droupadi Murmu had launched Vindhyagiri, the sixth warship of Project 17A, at GRSE.
The previous five warships under Project 17A were launched between 2019 and 2022.
“The launch of Mahendragiri is an apt testament to the incredible progress our nation has made in building a self-reliant naval force,” Indian Navy’s statement said.
Project 17A, which follows Project 17 (Shivalik class) frigates, has improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors, and platform-management systems.
All Project 17A warships are in different stages of construction and expected to be delivered to the Navy between 2024 and 2026.
