By A Correspondent

Mumbai: The Indian Navy on November 28, 2025, took delivery of Taragiri (Yard 12653), the fourth ship of the advanced Nilgiri-class frigates under Project 17A.

Handed over at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilding Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai, the milestone underscores India’s accelerating push for self-reliance in warship design and construction, the Indian Navy said in a statement on November 29, 2025.

Project 17A is among the Navy’s most ambitious indigenous shipbuilding programmes, aimed at producing cutting-edge multi-mission frigates capable of countering a spectrum of maritime threats.

Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB), the ships feature improved stealth, survivability, and enhanced combat capabilities compared to the earlier Shivalik-class (P17).

Taragiri carries forward the legacy of the original INS Taragiri, a Leander-class frigate that served the Indian Navy with distinction for 33 years until its decommissioning in 2013.

The new vessel represents a “quantum leap” in naval architecture, firepower, automation, and integrated systems, and stands as a strong symbol of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence shipbuilding.

Equipped with a potent suite of weapons and sensors, the frigate features the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, the MF-STAR radar, the MRSAM air-defence complex, a 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount, and layered close-in weapon systems.

Its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities include torpedoes and rocket launchers. The ship is powered by a modern Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system with Controllable Pitch Propellers and controlled through an advanced Integrated Platform Management System.

The construction of Taragiri reflects the Navy and MDL’s growing efficiency: the build time was compressed to 81 months, compared to 93 months for the lead ship Nilgiri.

It is also the fourth Project 17A vessel delivered within just 11 months. The remaining three ships — one at MDL and two at GRSE — are scheduled for delivery by August 2026.

The P17A warships form part of the 30+ warships that the Indian Navy will commission over the next two years, to grow into an over 165-warship navy by the end of 2027.

With an indigenous content of 75% and participation from over 200 MSMEs, Project 17A has created nearly 14,000 direct and indirect jobs, showcasing India’s expanding defence industrial base and engineering capabilities.

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