Indian Navy receives ‘Taragiri’, fourth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate under Project 17A
The handover, completed on November 28 in Mumbai, marks a significant milestone in India’s push towards self-reliance in advanced warship design and construction.
New Delhi, November 29: The Indian Navy has taken delivery of Taragiri (Yard 12653), the fourth Nilgiri-class frigate under Project 17A and the third to be built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilding Ltd (MDL). The handover, completed on November 28 in Mumbai, marks a significant milestone in India’s push towards self-reliance in advanced warship design and construction.
Project 17A frigates represent a major generational upgrade over the earlier Shivalik-class, with enhanced stealth, automation, survivability and multi-mission capability. Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed under an integrated build philosophy, Taragiri embodies India’s growing expertise in complex naval platforms.
Reincarnating the legacy of the original INS Taragiri—a Leander-class frigate that served the nation for 33 years—the new vessel is equipped with an advanced propulsion system featuring Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) configuration with controllable pitch propellers on each shaft. Its integrated platform management system supports higher automation and operational efficiency.
The frigate carries a potent mix of weapons and sensors, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the MFSTAR radar, the MRSAM air-defence system, a 76mm super rapid gun mount, close-in weapon systems, rockets and torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare.
Taragiri is the fourth Project 17A ship delivered in the past 11 months. Improved build efficiency based on earlier ships has helped compress its construction timeline to 81 months, compared to 93 months for the lead ship Nilgiri. The remaining three ships—one at MDL and two at GRSE—are scheduled for delivery by August 2026.
With an indigenisation level of 75%, the project has engaged more than 200 MSMEs and generated employment for an estimated 4,000 people directly and over 10,000 indirectly. The Navy said the delivery highlights India’s growing design and engineering capabilities and reinforces its commitment to Aatmanirbharta in shipbuilding.
