The Indian Navy has officially taken delivery of Taragiri, its fourth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate, during a ceremony at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. The handover marks a major milestone for India’s expanding warship-building program and reflects the country’s growing ability to design and produce advanced frontline vessels tailored for the Indo-Pacific security environment.
Classified as Yard 12653, the new Taragiri is part of the seven-ship Project 17A (P17A) frigate program. Naval officials described the handover as a demonstration of India’s maturing shipbuilding ecosystem, noting the frigate’s enhanced stealth shaping, upgraded sensors, and expanded multi-mission capability. The ship is intended to bolster India’s presence across the Indo-Pacific as regional maritime competition intensifies.
A modern successor to the original INS Taragiri (1980–2013), the new frigate incorporates next-generation naval architecture designed for anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare. Featuring a reduced radar cross-section, network-centric systems, high survivability standards, and advanced hull shaping, Taragiri represents a generational leap in Indian naval design. Its stealth features include angular superstructures, integrated sensors, and infrared suppression, while underwater enhancements such as a bulbous bow and low-noise propellers improve hydrodynamic performance and acoustic stealth.
At the core of Taragiri’s combat strength is a sophisticated, fully integrated weapons package. The frigate carries the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, offering precision strikes against maritime targets beyond 290 km. For air defense, the ship uses the MF-STAR radar paired with MRSAM vertical-launch missiles, enabling interception of aircraft, unmanned systems, and sea-skimming threats. Additional defensive layers include a 76mm SRGM, twin 30mm guns, and 12.7mm remote weapon stations. For undersea warfare, the frigate is fitted with torpedo launchers, RBU-6000 rockets, and a hull-mounted sonar, making it a formidable contender in both littoral and deep-sea operations.
