In a big boost to India’s naval strength and self-reliance, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday praised the Indian Navy for commissioning two advanced stealth frigates — INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri — at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.

Highlighting India’s progress in defence manufacturing, Singh made a pointed comparison to global powers. Without naming the United States, he said, “One nation has a flying F-35, but today, you have launched an indigenous floating F-35 — and that too, Made in India.”

The two ships are part of Project 17A, the Indian Navy’s cutting-edge program to build next-generation stealth frigates. This event also marked a first: two frontline combat ships built at different Indian shipyards were commissioned together.

INS Udaygiri was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai, while INS Himgiri was constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata.

Calling the new warships a milestone for national security and Atmanirbhar Bharat, Singh said, “This is a dream come true. I can confidently say both ships will play a vital role in strengthening the Navy’s reach, power, and resilience.”

He added that these frigates are “game-changers,” capable of handling complex and high-risk operations at sea, and will support India’s vision of “security and growth for all in the region” — aligning with the government’s Neighbourhood First policy.

Perhaps the most significant announcement came when Singh declared that India will no longer place shipbuilding orders abroad for the Navy. “INS Tamal was the last foreign-built ship for our Navy. From now on, all future ships will be made in India. This is a decisive move toward full self-reliance in defence.”

With the commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri, Singh noted that the Indian Navy has now crossed the 100-ship mark — a major milestone in its history.

Both new ships are highly advanced, with enhanced stealth, low radar visibility, sophisticated electronic warfare systems, supersonic missiles, and rapid-fire guns. They’re powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas propulsion system and feature an Integrated Platform Management System — boosting speed, fuel efficiency, and combat capability.

According to the Ministry of Defence, these multi-mission frigates will be key operational assets, expanding the Navy’s ability to protect India’s interests across a wide range of maritime missions.