In a major boost to India’s indigenisation drive in naval shipbuilding, the Indian Navy on Friday received Taragiri, the fourth vessel of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) advanced stealth frigates. The ship was handed over at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai on Friday, marking a significant milestone in India’s efforts toward self-reliance in complex warship design and construction.
Taragiri (Yard 12653) is the third Project 17A ship built by MDL and represents the modern reincarnation of the former INS Taragiri, a Leander-class frigate that served the Navy with distinction for 33 years between 1980 and 2013. The new vessel integrates advanced stealth features, improved automation, and enhanced survivability, reflecting a generational leap in naval engineering under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and monitored by the Warship Overseeing Team in Mumbai, the P17A frigates are built using an integrated construction methodology. The Navy said the lessons learned from constructing the first two ships allowed the build period of Taragiri to be reduced to 81 months, compared to 93 months required for the first ship of the class, Nilgiri.
The P17A platforms are equipped with a modern suite of weapons and sensors, including the BrahMos surface-to-surface missile system, MF-STAR radar, the MRSAM air defence system, a 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount, and close-in weapon systems. Designed for multi-role missions, the ship is also fitted with anti-submarine warfare rockets and torpedoes. Propulsion comes from a CODOG configuration comprising a diesel engine and gas turbine driving controllable pitch propellers, supported by a fully integrated platform management system.
The Navy noted that Taragiri is the fourth P17A vessel delivered within the last eleven months. The remaining three ships—one being constructed at MDL and two at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata—are scheduled for progressive delivery by August 2026.
With an indigenisation level of 75 percent, the project has engaged more than 200 MSMEs, generating employment for around 4,000 people directly and over 10,000 indirectly.