 "Udaygiri is the 100th ship designed and delivered by the Warship Design Bureau. Image: X/@indiannavy")
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned two multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), this is the first occasion when two major surface warships built at two separate Indian shipyards have been commissioned at the same time.
Praising the Indian Navy, the Defence Minister said the two frigates would play a key role in strengthening the country’s security.
He also drew a comparison between India’s new-generation frigates and the United States’ F-35 supersonic stealth multirole fighter jets.
But why? What did he say exactly?
Here’s a look:
Why Rajnath Singh called the Navy stealth frigates “floating F-35”
At the commissioning of the two warships, Rajnath Singh congratulated the Navy and said, “You have launched the indigenous F35 warship. One nation has a flying F-35, and you have built a floating F-35, that also made in India.”
He was referring to America’s F-35 fighter jets, known worldwide for their stealth and speed.
His statement also pointed to the pennant number of INS Udaygiri. The second stealth frigate under Project 17A carries the number F35, the same as the American aircraft.
Singh said the warships’ weapons and sensor systems make them the “invincible guardians of our seas”.
Notably, the F-35 fighter jets are considered among the most advanced in the world and were recently used during the conflict between the United States and Iran. Their features go beyond air-to-air combat, including advanced avionics, powerful onboard computers, and highly integrated sensors.
“The journey that INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are embarking on from Visakhapatnam today is a journey of India’s pride. This commissioning is a matter of pride for all of us," Singh said.
“With the inclusion of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, the strength, reach, and resilience of our Navy will further increase."
The Defence Minister added that the warships would not only improve India’s security but also support humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
He said that both vessels are equipped with advanced systems such as long-range surface-to-air missiles, BrahMos missiles, an indigenous rocket launcher, a torpedo launcher, a combat management system, and a fire control system.
What is a pennant number?
A pennant number is an alphanumeric code painted on the hull of a naval ship. It helps identify a vessel, its role, and type within a fleet.
These codes usually begin with a letter that shows the ship’s class. For instance, in F35, the letter ‘F’ stands for frigate.
Pennant numbers play an important role in operations, administration, and security.
INS Udaygiri & INS Himgiri
Both ships are part of Project 17A, also known as the Nilgiri-class stealth frigates. This project is a continuation of the Shivalik-class (Project 17) and has been designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB).
INS Udaygiri holds a special place as the 100th ship designed by the WDB, marking decades of progress in indigenous naval design.
The two frigates have about 75 per cent indigenous content, with support from more than 200 MSMEs and the creation of thousands of jobs.
INS Udaygiri was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, while INS Himgiri is the first of the P-17A ships being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.
Both ships displace about 6,670 tonnes and feature advanced stealth technology, including reduced radar, infrared, acoustic, and magnetic signatures. They also use composite superstructures and flush-mounted systems to lower visibility.
The frigates are built for multi-mission roles covering anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, land-attack, and electronic warfare.