Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India's indigenously built stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri, with over 75% local content, shows growing defence manufacturing capabilities. He also cited recent missile tests and export deals.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, to spotlight India's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The 136th episode on July 26 focused on INS Mahendragiri, an indigenously built stealth frigate that joined the Navy earlier this month.
“This modern warship has been designed in India and made in India. More than 75 per cent indigenous content has been used in this. This is a symbol of the growing strength of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat',” Modi said.
INS Mahendragiri was commissioned into the Eastern Fleet on July 11 in Visakhapatnam by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The frigate carries supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine warfare gear, and stealth features. The 75% local content figure puts it among the most domestically produced major warships in the Indian fleet.
Modi also referenced two recent DRDO tests: the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120) and the Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile. “This success is the result of the collective efforts of our scientists and engineers,” he said, adding that the Kusha test took place “2-3 days ago.”
The Prime Minister tied the naval and missile milestones to a broader narrative of rising defence exports and deeper strategic ties. He cited the recent supply agreements for BrahMos and Astra missiles signed during his visit to Indonesia. “The world's confidence in India's defence equipment and technology is growing,” Modi said.
July 26 also marks Kargil Vijay Diwas, the anniversary of the end of the 1999 war with Pakistan. Modi paid tribute to the soldiers who fought in Kargil and noted the ongoing Shaurya Vijay Yatra, a motorcycle rally that started from the National War Memorial in New Delhi and will end at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras. The theme is “One ride, one nation, one salute.”
The Prime Minister's remarks come as India pushes to reduce dependence on foreign arms suppliers. Domestic defence production has accelerated under the Make in India program, and the Navy's focus on indigenous frigates is part of a broader fleet modernisation plan that includes 13 warships under construction at Indian shipyards.
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