NEW DELHI, Aug. 24 -- The Indian Navy will bolster its capabilities in the Indian Ocean region with the induction of two locally made warships in Visakhapatnam next week, strengthening its hold on the vast maritime expanse where China is seeking to expand its footprint, officials aware of the matter said on Saturday. The Project 17A stealth frigates Udaygiri and Himgiri will be commissioned into service simultaneously on August 26 in the presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh, the officials said. The navy inducted the first of the seven P-17A warships, INS Nilgiri, in January. Taragiri, Mahendragiri, Dunagiri and Vindhyagiri will be commissioned by August-September 2026. "India's steady rise as a maritime power is unfolding in real time, driven by strategic vision, industrial resolve and an unwavering push for self-reliance. A striking manifestation of this transformation is the construction and commissioning of the Nilgiri-class stealth frigates under P-17A, the most advanced surface combatants of the Indian Navy," said one of the officials cited above. The platforms, showcasing the country's warship building prowess, have an indigenous content of 75% and come with modern weapons, sensors and systems to dominate the sea battlespace. The Rs.45,000-crore P-17A is a follow-on of the Shivalik-class (P-17) stealth frigates and represents a significant upgrade over the previous warships. Nilgiri and Udaygiri were built at Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), and the public sector yard will construct two more P-17A warships --- Taragiri and Mahendragiri. Himgiri was built at Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited, where Dunagiri and Vindhyagiri are in different stages of construction. P-17A is a key part of the navy's shipbuilding roadmap, which envisages a leaner and technology-driven force equipped to secure the country's growing maritime interests, said a second official, who also asked not to be named. "The Nilgiri-class draws on the successful lineage of the Shivalik-class frigates, but incorporates significant improvements in offensive capability, stealth, automation, survivability and modular construction techniques. Their innovative design reduces radar, infrared, acoustic and magnetic signatures, making them stealthier and thus difficult to detect." The frigates feature modern weapons, sensors, and electronic warfare suites, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, MF-STAR surveillance radar, Barak-8 surface-to-air missile system and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. They have a displacement of 6,670 tonnes, are 149 metres long, can reach a top speed of 28 knots (51.8 kmph) and carry 225 personnel. The navy is working on becoming fully self-reliant by 2047 when India celebrates 100 years of independence. Around 60 warships are under construction at various Indian shipyards. The construction of Udaygiri and Himgiri is firmly embedded in the national ethos of Atmanirbhar Bharat, said the first...