INS Nilgiri, India’s latest and most advanced warship, is a frigate of stealth built entirely within the country under the initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat. It was commissioned on 15 January 2025 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and this modern naval vessel marks an important step forward in enhancing India’s naval defence.
The ship recently made its first visit to Chennai, creating a special connection between the warship and the region that inspired its name, as it is named after the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu.
This visit is not only symbolic, but it also highlights India’s growing naval power and indigenous defence capabilities.
India’s New Stealth Frigate INS Nilgiri Makes Its First Visit to Chennai
The Indian Navy’s newest stealth warship, INS Nilgiri, made its first official visit to Chennai on Wednesday. The visit was especially meaningful, as the ship is named after the Nilgiri Hills, a famous mountain range in Tamil Nadu.
INS Nilgiri was commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 January 2025 and is the lead ship of the Project 17A class, a new generation of stealth-guided missile frigates. These advanced warships are designed to be harder to detect and more powerful than their predecessors. The ship was designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built entirely in India, showcasing the country’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. The construction work was carried out at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders in Kolkata. Captain Nitin Kapoor is in command of INS Nilgiri. After commissioning, the ship joined the Eastern Naval Command and reached its new home port in Visakhapatnam in June. The stop in Chennai is a part of the ship’s first deployment and holds both operational and symbolic importance as it promotes strengthening ties with Tamil Nadu, whose natural landmark inspired the name of the ship. During its stay, INS Nilgiri is expected to participate in ceremonial and diplomatic activities, highlighting the state’s importance in India’s maritime strategy. The ship is 149 meters long and weighs around 6,670 tons. It features stealth technology that reduces its visibility to enemy radar and heat sensors, thereby making it more advanced than the earlier Shivalik-class frigates. INS Nilgiri is characterized by 16 Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles for air defence 8 BrahMos cruise missiles for striking enemy ships A 76 mm OTO Melara main gun Close-in weapon systems and torpedo launchers for close-range and underwater threats INS Nilgiri uses a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion system, which allows it to sail at speeds up to 32 knots (about 59 km/h) and travel over 5,500 nautical miles without refueling at cruising speed. It is the first of seven Project 17A frigates, which are set to be inducted between 2024 and 2027, marking an important step forward in India’s naval strength and technological capability.
