INS UDAYGIRI: INDIA’S INDIGENOUS STEALTH POWER FOR A SECURE MARITIME FUTURE
– A Strategic Analysis by Suryavanshi IAS
🔎
INTRODUCTION: INDIA’S BLUE-WATER AMBITION SETS SAIL
On July 1, 2025, India crossed a major
milestone in its defence indigenisation and maritime dominance with the
delivery of INS Udaygiri, the second of seven advanced stealth
frigates under Project 17A, to the Indian Navy. Delivered in record
time of 37 months, this frigate is not just a warship—it is a floating
symbol of India's engineering capabilities, self-reliance, and maritime
strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
🔧 PROJECT
17A: BUILDING ON SHIVALIK CLASS EXCELLENCE
Project 17A (P-17A) is an extension of the Project
17 (Shivalik-class) guided missile stealth frigates, aimed at enhancing stealth,
automation, and combat capabilities. The project includes:
- 7 ships in total
- 4 at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDSL), Mumbai
- 3 at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata
- All scheduled for delivery by end of 2026
With INS Nilgiri as the lead ship
(delivered earlier), INS Udaygiri marks the acceleration of naval
modernization.
🛠️ TECHNICAL
FEATURES OF INS UDAYGIRI
INS Udaygiri is a multi-role warship, equipped
to operate in blue-water environments. Its advanced features include:
|
Specification |
Details |
|
Displacement |
~6,700 tonnes |
|
Speed |
28+ knots |
|
Length |
Approx. 149 metres |
|
Range |
5,500 nautical miles |
|
Stealth Tech |
Reduced radar, IR, acoustic, and magnetic signature |
|
Combat Systems |
Supersonic BrahMos SSM, Barak-8 MR SAMs, 76 mm gun, 30 mm CIWS,
torpedoes |
|
Sensors |
Indigenous 3D surveillance radar, sonar suites, electronic warfare
systems |
|
Crew |
Around 200 |
|
Propulsion |
Combined Diesel and Gas (CODAG) system |
🏗️ SYMBOL OF
INDIGENISATION: FROM DESIGN TO DELIVERY
- Designed entirely by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau
- Over 75% components sourced domestically
- 200+ MSMEs
involved in sub-systems and fittings
- Strategic support from DRDO, BEL, BDL, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat
Forge, etc.
INS Udaygiri is the modern
reincarnation of its predecessor—the erstwhile INS Udaygiri (F35),
decommissioned in 2007 after 31 years of service.
🌐 STRATEGIC
SIGNIFICANCE: WHY INS UDAYGIRI MATTERS
🔹 1. Securing
India’s Maritime Interests
India’s 7,500+ km coastline and dependence on
maritime trade (~90% by volume, 70% by value) necessitate strong sea denial
and sea control capabilities.
INS Udaygiri:
- Protects Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs)
- Supports anti-submarine warfare, anti-air, and anti-surface
operations
- Boosts presence in strategic chokepoints like the Malacca
Strait, Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Persian Gulf
🔹 2. Enhancing
Naval Diplomacy
Participating in joint exercises like
Malabar, VARUNA, and MILAN, it reflects India’s role as a Net Security
Provider in the Indo-Pacific.
🔹 3. Response
to China’s Maritime Assertiveness
With increasing Chinese activity in the Indian
Ocean (via String of Pearls and PLAN base in Djibouti), India must strengthen
deterrence through modern, stealthy, versatile warships.
🧭 RELEVANCE
TO A CIVIL SERVANT: BEYOND SHIPS AND MISSILES
🧩 National
Security & Policy Making
- Informs defence procurement decisions
- Affects maritime trade policies and blue economy
initiatives
- Impacts foreign relations, especially with Indo-Pacific
powers
📜
Constitutional Mandate
- Article 51(c) promotes
international peace and security—requires maritime readiness
- Directive Principles (Art 39B & 39C) imply safeguarding natural resources (like EEZ)
💼 Governance
& Administration
- Indigenous projects like this demand cross-ministerial
coordination (Defence, MSME, Commerce, Science & Tech)
- Highlights the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs)
and Make in India
💡 LESSONS
FOR ASPIRANTS: WHAT UPSC MAY ASK
🔘 GS Paper
II (Governance, IR, Security):
- Role of indigenous defence platforms in foreign policy
- India's maritime strategy in Indo-Pacific
🔘 GS Paper
III (Science & Technology, Defence):
- Strategic relevance of Project 17A
- Indigenisation in defence manufacturing
🔘 Essay
Paper / Ethics:
- Role of innovation and engineering in national security
- Patriotism through public service and indigenous excellence
🎓
Suryavanshi IAS: WHERE STRATEGIC MINDS PREPARE TO SERVE
“Empowering Future Civil Servants with
Clarity, Strategy, and Purpose.”
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with Purpose, Serve with Pride” — Join Suryavanshi IAS Today
Understanding topics like INS Udaygiri isn’t
just about defence—it’s about how India governs, grows, and safeguards
its national interest. At Suryavanshi IAS, we help you master such
dimensions .,We believe that understanding defence, strategic affairs, and
indigenous technology is vital for UPSC aspirants aiming to become
effective policymakers. Our Integrated Prelims + Mains + Interview Guidance
Programme trains you to think like a nation-builder.
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📌 CONCLUSION
INS Udaygiri is more than a warship—it is a manifestation
of India’s maritime resurgence, technological capability, and geopolitical
foresight. For every UPSC aspirant and future policymaker, it stands as a lesson
in vision, execution, and national pride. Understanding such developments
ensures we’re not only exam-ready but nation-ready.
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