India gets a 'F35' stealth war machine, but it's not a plane and here's what makes it special

Indian armed forces have received F-35 stealth warship, but it's not a fighter jet. The Indian Navy recently received a significant boost to its maritime capabilities with the delivery of Udaygiri, the second stealth frigate under Project 17A, on 1 July 2025 with a Pennant number F35. It is a special moment for the Indian Navy as the warship was handed over by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in a record 37 months, marking a major milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

In the Indian Navy, a pennant number, also known as a hull number, it is an alphanumeric code displayed on the side of a ship to identify it and the class it belongs to. In this case 'F' stands for frigate.

Second P-17A Frigate ‘Udaygiri’ Delivered to Indian Navy
Yard 12652 (Udaygiri) is the second of seven multi-mission stealth frigates being constructed under Project 17A, a follow-on of the Shivalik-class (Project 17) currently in service. Designed for blue water operations, the ship is equipped to counter both conventional and non-conventional maritime threats. Construction of the class is underway at MDL, Mumbai, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The warship is 142.5 meter long, 16.9 meter wide, and weighs 6342 tonnes. It has a maximum speed 30 knots.

Enhanced Capabilities and Design Improvements
Project 17A frigates incorporate enhanced stealth features and a significantly upgraded weapons and sensor suite compared to their predecessors. The hull of the P-17A class is 4.54% larger than the P-17 class and features a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system with controllable pitch propellers and an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).

The stealth features of Project 17A frigates are achieved through a combination of reduced radar cross section (RCS), noise, and infrared signatures, said retired Rear Admiral A.K. Saxena, former Director, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, in an interview to a news agency. RCS is minimized by modelling the ship’s superstructure, reshaping high-reflection areas, and using radar-absorbent or transparent materials, with most weapons vertically launched and deck fittings concealed to present a cleaner profile. Noise reduction focuses on limiting hydrodynamic noise from the hull and propellers, and structure-borne noise from onboard machinery through specialized mounts and acoustic enclosures. Infrared signatures are reduced by lowering exhaust temperatures using the Venturi effect and fluid injection, decreasing heat plume visibility and enhancing survivability.

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Remaining Ships Under Construction
The remaining five frigates of the P-17A class — Dunagiri, Taragiri, Vindhyagiri, and Mahendragiri — are at various stages of construction at MDL and GRSE. All seven ships are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026.

Project 17A stealth frigate Udaygiri Features

According to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited:
LR SAM Surface to Air Missiles
Eight(8) Vertically launched Surface to Surface Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles
Light weight Anti-Submarine Torpedo
Indigenous Rocket Launcher (IRL) with FCS IAC-MOD
One MR Gun
76 mm main gun
Two 30 mm AK 630 rapid fire Guns
12.7 mm rapid-fire close-in weapon system
MFSTAR Multi Mission Surveillance Radar
Shakti EW SuiteAirborne Early Warning Radar
Surface Surveillance Radar
Sonar Humsa (NG)

Equipped with the following state-of-the-art systems:
• Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) on an independent network interfaced with integrated Bridge System (IBS) & Combat Management System (CMS) for defined data exchange through RS 422 asynchronous link
• Integrated Bridge System (IBS)
• Combat Management System (CMS)
• Advanced Composite Communication Suite (ACCS)
• Ship's Databus Network

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F35 Udaygiri's Legacy and Indigenous Development
Udaygiri carries forward the legacy of its namesake, a former steam-powered frigate decommissioned in 2007 after 31 years of service. The new vessel reflects the Indian Navy’s growing in-house design capability, led by the Warship Design Bureau, and increasing reliance on indigenous defence manufacturing.

"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," an official statement noted.

The P-17A programme has resulted in direct employment for around 4,000 personnel and indirect employment for over 10,000 through ancillary industries. The project has driven self-reliance, economic growth, and the expansion of India’s defence industrial base.

(With inputs from PTI)