On 30 April at Mumbai, the Indian Navy’s (IN) sixth ship of the P17A – Nilgiri class stealth frigates, Mahendragiri was delivered to the IN by Mazagon Dock Ltd. She is the fourth ship of the class to be built at the ship yard. The class was designed by the IN’s Warship Design Bureau. The pace of construction has seen six ships of the class delivered to the IN in the last 17 months, three of which are in commission.
The Nilgiri class displace 6,6665 tonnes and are 149 metres in length. Their combined gas turbine and diesel propulsion provides for a maximum speed of 32 knots and a range of 5,500 nautical miles at 16-18 knots. The class incorporate a mix of Indian, Western and Russian systems. Their sensors include an S-Band AESA radar and the weapons fit consists of one 76mm gun, two AK-630M CIWS, four-8-cell VLS for Barak 8 surface-to-air missiles, an 8-cell VLS for BrahMos anti-ship missiles, two triple torpedo tubes for Shyena lightweight torpedoes and two RBU-600 anti-submarine rocket launchers. The ships can embark either one Dhruv or Seaking helicopter.
Source: IN
