Mumbai: The first indigenous Stealth warship, being constructed by Mazgaon Dock for the Indian Navy, will be launched on April 18 at a special function.

Defence Minister George Fernandes will be the chief guest while wife of Admiral Madhavendra Singh, Kaumudi Kumari will launch the ship.

The launching of the Stealth warship, the first of the three Stealth ships of Project 17, assumes significance in the context of South Korea launching a similar warship last week.

The metal for the ship was cut in December 2000 and the ship will be built at a cost of Rs 700 crore.

The ship to be equipped with Russian aided Klub missiles will have both offensive and defensive mechanism against enemy ships, submarines and aircraft and has the capacity to substantially influence the war on land.

The second and third warship of the Project 17 are expected to be commissioned in December 2006 and December 2007 respectively.

Meanwhile, the first of the Russian-made Stealth warship is expected to arrive at Mumbai later in 2003, sources added.

PTI