Indian Navy receives ‘Taragiri’, fourth Nilgiri-class frigate from Mazagon dock

New Delhi: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilding Ltd (MDL) has delivered Taragiri (Yard 12653), the fourth Nilgiri-class frigate under Project 17A and the third to be constructed by the Mumbai-based shipyard, to the Indian Navy on November 28.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Project 17A series has been conceptualised as a line of “versatile multi-mission platforms” capable of meeting both present and emerging challenges in the maritime domain.

Taragiri carries forward the legacy of the earlier INS Taragiri, a Leander-class frigate that served the Navy from May 16, 1980, to June 27, 2013. The Ministry said the new vessel represents a major “quantum leap in naval design, stealth, firepower, automation and survivability,” and stands as “a symbol of Aatmanirbharta in warship building.”

Designed by the Warship Design Bureau and supervised by the Warship Overseeing Team in Mumbai, the P17A class marks a generational shift in indigenous warship design, significantly enhancing stealth, survivability and overall combat potential. Built under the Integrated Construction methodology, the ship has been delivered within the expected timelines.

The Ministry noted that the P17A series features an upgraded weapon and sensor suite compared to the earlier P17 (Shivalik) class. The ships operate on a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion configuration, using a diesel engine and gas turbine to power a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft, supported by a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).

The combat suite on Taragiri includes BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, the MFSTAR radar and MRSAM air-defence system, a 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount, 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems, as well as rockets and torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare operations.

This delivery marks the fourth P17A vessel handed over to the Navy in the last 11 months. Leveraging lessons learned from the first two ships in the series, the Navy and MDL have managed to shorten the construction period of Taragiri to 81 months, compared to the 93 months taken for the lead ship, Nilgiri. The remaining three vessels — one at MDL and two at GRSE — are slated for progressive delivery by August 2026.

The Ministry said the handover of Taragiri highlights India’s growing “design, ship construction and engineering prowess,” reflecting the Navy’s continued commitment to self-reliance in warship design and construction.