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PROJECT 17A INDIGENOUS STEALTH FRIGATE UDAYGIRI DELIVERED TO INDIAN NAVY

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Unveil the features of Udaygiri, the Indigenous Stealth Frigate delivered to the Indian Navy, marking a milestone in Project 17A's naval innovation.

Yard 12652 (Udaygiri), the second ship of Project 17A stealth frigate, being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), was delivered to the Indian Navy on 01 July 2025. The Project is a follow-on of the Shivalik class (Project 17) frigates active in service. Udaygiri is the second among the seven P17A frigates under construction at MDL, Mumbai and GRSE, Kolkata. These multi-mission frigates are capable of operating in a ‘Blue Water’ environment dealing with both conventional and non-conventional threats in the area of India’s Maritime Interests. Udaygiri is a modern Avatar of its predecessor, erstwhile INS Udaygiri which was a Steam Ship, decommissioned on 24 August 2007 after rendering 31 years of glorious service to the nation.

P-17A ships have enhanced stealth features and fitted with ‘State of the Art’ weapons and sensors, a significant upgrade from the P17 class. The ships represent a quantum leap in Indian Navy’s in-house design capabilities at the Warship Design Bureau. The newly designed ships are also being built employing the philosophy of ‘Integrated Construction’, which involves extensive pre-outfitting at the Block stages to reduce the overall build periods. Udaygiri has been delivered to the Indian Navy, in a record time of 37 months from the date of launching.

The hull of P17A ships is geo-symmetrically larger by 4.54 % vis-à-vis P 17. These ships are fitted with an advanced weapon and sensors suite with enhanced ‘sleek and stealthy’ features compared to the P 17 class. The ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) main propulsion plants, comprising a Diesel Engine and Gas turbine, driving a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft and a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). The weapon suite comprises supersonic Surface-to-Surface missile system, Medium-Range Surface to Air Missile system, 76 mm Gun, and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm rapid-fire close-in Weapon Systems.

Aatmanirbharta in Ship Building and Employment Generation.   The delivery of Udaygiri showcases the nation’s ship design, ship construction and engineering prowess enabled by a strong industrial ecosystem supported by over 200 MSMEs. The warship is fitted with major weapons and sensors sourced from indigenous OEMs.

Plough Back. The shipbuilding requirements of the Project have led to direct employment generation for about 4,000 personnel and more than 10,000 personnel through indirect/ ancillary sources. The positive spin offs of the shipbuilding project included self-reliance, economic development, employment generation, growth of MSMEs and ancillary ecosystem in the country.

The remaining five ships of the P 17A Class are at various stages of construction at MDL, Mumbai and GRSE, Kolkata and would be delivered progressively by end 2026.

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COVER STORYDefence Industry & TechnologyMILITARY

Armed Forces Flag Day Fund 2020-21

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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh felicitates prominent contributors to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund for FY 2020-21 during CSR Conclave.

Appeals for generous donations for welfare of Ex-Servicemen, Veer Naris & their dependants.

Key Highlights of RM’s speech:

  • Our Armed Forces have always defended India’s integrity &sovereignty during wars and by countering cross-border terror activities
  • It is our moral obligation to support the veterans, Veer Naris & their families
  • Just as the responsibility of our security rests on our soldiers, their and their families’ responsibility rests on us
  • Private sector should take advantage of Government’s policies and play a part in the country’s progress

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh felicitated the prominent contributors to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) for Financial Year (FY) 2020-21 during the third edition of Armed Forces Flag Day Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave in New Delhi on December 02, 2021. Chairman, State Bank of India Shri Dinesh Khara and Executive Director Sun TV Group Smt Kavery Kalanithi were among the prominent contributors who were felicitated on the occasion. 

The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh felicitating the generous donors from corporate and private sectors to the Armed Forces Flag Day fund, during the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Conclave 2021’, in New Delhi on December 02, 2021. The Minister of State for Defence and Tourism, Shri Ajay Bhatt and other dignitaries are also seen.

In his address, Shri Rajnath Singh expressed gratitude to all those who made valuable contributions in the AFFDF and appealed for more generous donations for the rehabilitation and welfare of Ex-Servicemen, Veer Naris & their dependants. He commended the valour & sacrifice of the Armed Forces for defending the integrity and sovereignty of the country during wars as well as countering terrorist activities from across the border. He paid rich tributes to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the Nation.

 The Raksha Mantri also appreciated the Ex-Servicemen for voluntarily helping the civil administration in contact tracing, community surveillance, management of quarantine facilities at different places during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Saying that the Government is providing all possible support to the Armed Forces personnel, including the ex-servicemen, he termed their welfare as a collective responsibility and moral obligation of the people to come forward and support the soldiers & their families. 

The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh felicitating the generous donors from corporate and private sectors to the Armed Forces Flag Day fund, during the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Conclave 2021’, in New Delhi on December 02, 2021. The Minister of State for Defence and Tourism, Shri Ajay Bhatt and the Secretary, (Ex-Servicemen Welfare), Shri B. Anand are also seen.

“Just as the responsibility of our security rests on our soldiers, the same way their and their families’ responsibility rests on all of us. ‘Gaurav Maah’, which is celebrated across the country through our Sainik Boards, is a way of discharging this social responsibility. To fulfill our responsibility towards the security of the Nation, we should come forward with a big and open mind. We have to work for the welfare of our countryand our soldiers by rising above personal or institutional fame,” said Shri Rajnath Singh. 

The Raksha Mantri recalled the contributions made by the general public for the Armed Forces before and after Independence and said that this feeling has always been part of Indian tradition. He mentioned about ‘Bharat ke Veer’ which was initiated when he was Minister of Home Affairs, for the welfare of the officers and jawans of the Central Armed Police Forces. 

The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh felicitating the generous donors from corporate and private sectors to the Armed Forces Flag Day fund, during the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Conclave 2021’, in New Delhi on December 02, 2021. The Minister of State for Defence and Tourism, Shri Ajay Bhatt and other dignitaries are also seen.

Shri Rajnath Singh also exhorted the representatives of the Industry and the Public Sector Undertakings to take advantage of the policies rolled out by the Government to promote private sector participation in the defence sector and play a part in the progress of the Nation. “We recognised the power of the private sector and their role in the progress of the country. Since 2014, we have made every effort to bolster the private sector. The defence sector is now fully ready to welcome you. Your progress will ensure the progress of this Nation and in the long run it will become the medium of empowerment of our Armed Forces. It will be a win-win situation for all,” he stated. 

Speaking on the occasion, Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt appreciated the voluntary contributions to the AFFDF. He urged the contributors to continue to remain a partner in the Government’s vision of the welfare of the serving as well as retired Armed Forces personnel. He lauded the discipline, dedication &capabilities of the Armed Forces for protecting the borders and playing an equally important role during natural and artificial disasters. 

Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare) Shri B Anand elaborated on the 17 schemes sponsored by AFFDF, including Penury Grant, Education Grant and Marriage Grant, which support the Ex-Servicemen, war widows and their dependants. He said, a total of Rs 210 crore is required to fund these 17 schemes annually, however, AFFDF is able to garner only around Rs 95 crore each year, including internal accruals and collections. He called for generous contributions to the fund in order to cater to the needs of the beneficiaries.


          In FY 2020-21, contributions of Rs 32.86 crore were received, as compared to Rs 47.73 crore in FY 2019-20. In FY 2020-21, approx. Rs 133 crore were disbursed to over 38,000 individual beneficiaries. Institutional grants were also provided to Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centres at Kirkee and Mohali, Cheshire Homes at Dehradun, Lucknow & Delhi and 36 War Memorial hostels across the country. 

The Armed Forces Flag Day CSR Conclave aims at highlighting the measures by Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence towards Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Welfare of the Ex-servicemen, Widows and their dependents and to mobilize the CSR support towards these efforts. 

The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh felicitating the generous donors from corporate and private sectors to the Armed Forces Flag Day fund, during the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Conclave 2021’, in New Delhi on December 02, 2021. The Minister of State for Defence and Tourism, Shri Ajay Bhatt and the Secretary, (Ex-Servicemen Welfare), Shri B. Anand are also seen.

Corporate contributions to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund are eligible for fulfilling the CSR obligation under section 135 of Companies Act, 2013 as it adheres to ‘Measures for the benefit of Armed Forces Veterans, War Widows and their dependents’ (Clause VI of Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013) and is registered with the Office of the Registrar of the Companies, Ministry of Corporate Affairs for undertaking CSR Activities (Registration No CSR00011199). The contributions to the fund are exempt from Income Tax. 

Secretary, Kendriya Sainik Board Air Commodore B Ahluwalia, other senior civil &military officials of Ministry of Defence and representatives of corporate &private sector were present during the Conclave.

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