In News:

The Indian Navy has received INS Taragiri (Yard 12653), the fourth Nilgiri-class frigate under Project 17A and the third P17A ship built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL). Delivered in November 2025, the induction of Taragiri marks a major milestone in Aatmanirbhar Bharat and India’s quest for indigenous, advanced warship construction.

INS Taragiri: Key Facts

• Type: Advanced stealth frigate (Nilgiri class)
• Project:Project 17A
• Builder:Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)
• Legacy: Reincarnation of the earlier INS Taragiri, a Leander-class frigate that served the Indian Navy from 1980 to 2013 (33 years)
• Designer: Warship Design Bureau (WDB)

Project 17A (Nilgiri Class): Overview

• Programme to build seven advanced stealth frigates as successors to the Shivalik-class (Project 17).
• Shipbuilders:
  • MDL:Nilgiri, Udaygiri, Taragiri, Mahendragiri
  • **Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE): Himgiri, Dunagiri, Vindhyagiri
• Construction philosophy:Integrated Construction Method
  • Pre-outfitting of blocks to reduce build time and improve quality.
• Indigenisation: ~75% indigenous content, involving 200+ MSMEs.
• Delivery timeline: Remaining P17A ships to be delivered progressively by August 2026.

Design & Propulsion

• Role: Blue-water, multi-mission frontline combatant
• Propulsion:Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) system
  • Diesel engine + gas turbine
  • Each driving a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP)
• Automation: Advanced Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for efficient monitoring and control.

Weapons & Sensors Suite

• Missiles:
  • BrahMos supersonic surface-to-surface missile
  • Long Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (LRSAM) / Barak-8 (MRSAM)
• Guns & CIWS:
  • 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount
  • 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems
• Anti-Submarine Warfare:
  • Lightweight torpedoes
  • Indigenous Rocket Launchers (IRL)
• Sensors & EW:
  • Multi-function radar (MF-STAR)
  • Shakti Electronic Warfare Suite
  • Airborne early-warning radar
  • Surface surveillance radar
  • Humsa-NG sonar

Operational Significance

• Capable of anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare.
• Enhanced stealth, survivability, firepower, and automation over earlier frigate classes.
• Reduces dependence on imports and strengthens India’s blue-water naval capabilities.
• Employment generation: ~4,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs.