Context:
On 28 November 2025, the Indian Navy formally received INS Taragiri (Yard 12653) from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Mumbai — marking a major milestone in India’s indigenous warship-building drive. Taragiri is the fourth P-17A frigate delivered, and the third built by MDL under Project 17A.
About Project 17A / Nilgiri-Class:
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- Project 17A is an advanced stealth-frigate programme following the earlier P-17 (Shivalik-class). It entails building seven stealth frigates - four by MDL (Mumbai) and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE, Kolkata).
- These ships are designed as versatile multi-mission platforms for the Indian Navy - capable of surface, sub-surface, and air-defence operations — thus ensuring flexibility across conventional and emerging maritime challenges.
- Project 17A is an advanced stealth-frigate programme following the earlier P-17 (Shivalik-class). It entails building seven stealth frigates - four by MDL (Mumbai) and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE, Kolkata).
About INS Taragiri – Key Features, Systems & Capabilities:
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Aspect |
Details |
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Legacy / Name |
Honours the earlier INS Taragiri (F33), a Leander-class frigate (1980–2013) |
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Displacement & Design |
~6,670 tonnes; stealth-optimized hull and superstructure to reduce radar/IR signature |
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Construction Methodology |
Integrated Construction; build time 81 months (down from ~93 months for first-of-class) |
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Indigenisation |
~75% indigenous content; involvement of 200+ MSMEs; ~4,000 direct & 10,000+ indirect jobs |
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Propulsion |
CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) system; diesel engines for cruising, gas turbines for high-speed; controllable pitch propellers |
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Platform Systems |
Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for power management, damage control, automation; improves survivability & operational readiness |
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Surface Strike Capability |
Supersonic cruise missiles (BrahMos) for long-range precision strikes |
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Air Defence |
Multi-function radar (MF-STAR); medium-range SAM system (MRSAM) |
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Gunnery & CIWS |
76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM); 30 mm and 12.7 mm CIWS for short-range defence |
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Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) |
Torpedo tubes, rocket launchers, sonar for submarine detection and engagement |
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Operational Role |
Multi-role stealth frigate: blue-water operations, littoral warfare, network-centric maritime security |
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Strategic Significance:
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Aspect |
Importance |
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Maritime security |
Enhances Indian Navy’s multi-dimensional defence in Indian Ocean & Indo-Pacific |
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Self-reliance |
Strengthens Make in India / Atmanirbhar Bharat goals; boosts indigenous shipbuilding ecosystem |
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Multi-mission capability |
Surface, sub-surface, air defence, HADR, anti-piracy, maritime surveillance |
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Economic impact |
~4,000 direct jobs, 10,000+ indirect jobs; technology transfer to MSMEs |
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Deterrence |
Modern frigates improve India’s naval deterrence and operational flexibility |
Conclusion
INS Taragiri marks a major milestone in India’s indigenous naval capabilities, contributing to national security, maritime dominance, and defence self-reliance.
