Taragiri, fourth Project 17A Frigate, delivered to Indian Navy
New Delhi, November 29. The Indian Navy on November 28 took delivery of Taragiri, the fourth frigate under the Nilgiri-class Project 17A, marking a significant step forward in India’s drive toward self-reliance in warship design and construction. The vessel, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilding Ltd (MDL), was handed over at the company’s Mumbai yard.
Taragiri is the third Project 17A ship constructed by MDL and represents a modern reincarnation of the original INS Taragiri, a Leander-class frigate that served the Navy for 33 years until its decommissioning in 2013. The new frigate features advanced stealth technology, enhanced firepower and automation, and improved survivability, underscoring the Navy’s expanding indigenous capabilities.
Designed by the Warship Design Bureau and built under the supervision of the Warship Overseeing Team (Mumbai), the Project 17A frigates mark a generational leap from the earlier Shivalik-class vessels. Constructed using the Integrated Construction methodology, Taragiri was completed within the projected timelines.
The frigate is equipped with a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system that uses both a diesel engine and a gas turbine to power Controllable Pitch Propellers on each shaft. It also features a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System.
Its weapons package includes BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, MF-STAR radar, the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile system, a 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount, close-in weapon systems of 30 mm and 12.7 mm, and anti-submarine warfare rockets and torpedoes.
Taragiri is the fourth Project 17A vessel to be delivered within the past 11 months. Improvements in construction processes have reduced its build time to 81 months, compared with 93 months for lead ship Nilgiri. The remaining three ships – one at MDL and two at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) – are scheduled for delivery by August 2026.
With an indigenisation level of 75 percent, Project 17A has engaged over 200 MSMEs and generated employment for nearly 4,000 people directly and more than 10,000 indirectly. The delivery of Taragiri highlights India’s strengthening shipbuilding ecosystem and the Navy’s continued push toward ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence manufacturing.
