The Indian Navy has officially taken delivery of INS Taragiri, the fourth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate under Project 17A, reinforcing India’s expanding capability to build advanced warships and strengthening its strategic posture across the Indo-Pacific.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the handover ceremony took place on 29 November 2025 at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai. Designated Yard 12653, the new Taragiri represents a major milestone in India’s indigenous warship production, showcasing improved stealth shaping, enhanced survivability, and advanced multi-mission capabilities.
Next-Generation Stealth and Multi-Mission Design
A modern successor to the original Leander-class INS Taragiri (1980–2013), the new frigate has been engineered for surface warfare, anti-air engagement, and submarine hunting. Its angular superstructure, flush sensors, and infrared suppression system significantly reduce radar and thermal signatures, while the low-noise propulsion system provides outstanding acoustic stealth.
High-End Weapons Suite: BrahMos and MRSAM
INS Taragiri is equipped with the BrahMos supersonic surface-to-surface missile, capable of striking enemy vessels more than 290 km away with high precision. For air defense, the frigate features the MF-STAR multi-function radar paired with the vertical-launch Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM), enabling interception of aircraft, UAVs, and sea-skimming missiles.
The ship’s layered close-in defenses include:
- 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount
- Twin 30mm automatic cannons
- 12.7mm remote weapon stations
Dominant Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems
Taragiri enhances India’s undersea warfare capabilities with:
- RBU-6000 ASW rocket launchers
- Dual torpedo tubes
- Hull-mounted sonar optimized for littoral and blue-water operations
Aviation-Ready Platform for Extended Maritime Reach
The flight deck and hangar can support helicopters such as the MH-60R or HAL Dhruv, expanding the ship’s role in surveillance, ASW, and over-the-horizon targeting. The Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) boosts survivability with real-time diagnostics and automated power and damage control management.
Long-Range Patrol Capability and Flexible Propulsion
Driven by a CODOG propulsion system, Taragiri can transition between fuel-efficient cruising and high-speed combat maneuvers. With a range exceeding 5,500 nautical miles, the frigate is suited for sustained deployments across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.
Strengthening India’s Indo-Pacific Naval Presence
Taragiri is the fourth of seven Project 17A frigates, following INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, and INS Udaygiri. Lessons from earlier builds reduced the construction time from 93 months to 81. The remaining three ships are scheduled for delivery by August 2026.
With more than 75% indigenous content, the induction of Taragiri reinforces India’s growing defense self-reliance and its ability to project power, secure sea lanes, and serve as a key security provider in the evolving Indo-Pacific maritime environment.
