Mumbai : Taragiri, the fourth warship of the advanced Nilgiri-class (Project 17A), was formally delivered to the Indian Navy in Mumbai on Friday, marking a significant step forward in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in warship design and construction, an official said on Saturday.
Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Taragiri (Yard 12653) is the third P17A frigate produced by the shipyard under the programme. Its delivery comes just 11 months after the previous P17A ship was handed over, highlighting a steady acceleration in indigenous naval production.
According to the official statement, the construction experience gained from the first two ships enabled MDL to reduce the build time for Taragiri to 81 months—substantially shorter than the 93 months required for the lead ship Nilgiri.
Project 17A frigates are cutting-edge, multi-mission platforms designed to counter evolving maritime threats. The remaining three ships in the seven-vessel programme—one under construction at MDL and two at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd—are scheduled for progressive delivery by August 2026.
Reincarnation of a Legacy Ship
The new Taragiri revives the legacy of the erstwhile INS Taragiri, a Leander-class frigate that served the nation with distinction from 1980 to 2013. The Indian Navy described the new vessel as a “state-of-the-art frigate” showcasing major advancements in stealth, firepower, survivability and automation—embodying the vision of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence manufacturing.
Advanced Design and Capabilities
Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team (Mumbai), the P17A class represents a generational leap in indigenous ship design. The use of Integrated Construction techniques ensured that the vessel met its delivery timelines.
Compared to the earlier Shivalik-class (P17) frigates, P17A ships feature an enhanced weapons suite and advanced sensor systems. Taragiri comes equipped with:
BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles
MFSTAR and MRSAM missile systems
76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount
30mm and 12.7mm close-in weapon systems
Rockets and torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare
Propelled by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) system—with diesel engines, a gas turbine, and Controllable Pitch Propellers—the frigate integrates a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for seamless operations.
Boost to Indigenous Manufacturing
With an indigenisation level of nearly 75%, the Project 17A programme has had a substantial economic and industrial impact. More than 200 MSMEs contributed to the project, generating direct employment for around 4,000 personnel and indirect employment for over 10,000.
The delivery of Taragiri underscores India’s expanding capabilities in advanced warship design and construction, reinforcing the Navy’s push toward a fully self-reliant ecosystem in maritime defence.
