The Indian Navy has officially taken delivery of Taragiri, its fourth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate, in a ceremony at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai—an event underscoring India’s accelerating warship-building capability and its commitment to strengthening maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Designated Yard 12653, the new Taragiri represents another milestone in the seven-vessel Project 17A frigate program, showcasing the steady progress of India’s indigenous shipbuilding ecosystem. The frigate is the modern successor to the original INS Taragiri, a Leander-class vessel that served from 1980 to 2013, and brings with it significantly enhanced stealth characteristics, advanced sensors, and expanded mission adaptability across multiple warfare domains.
Engineered for surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare, Taragiri embodies a next-generation naval design philosophy. The ship features optimized stealth geometry, flush-fitted sensors, infrared suppression, and quiet propulsion to reduce detectability from radar, thermal, and acoustic sensors. Its hydrodynamically efficient hull and reinforced structure ensure high endurance and stability in demanding sea conditions.
The frigate’s weapons suite is centered on the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile for long-range surface strike missions, paired with the MF-STAR radar and MRSAM vertical-launch air-defense system for layered protection against aerial threats. Additional defenses include a 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount, twin 30mm cannons, 12.7mm remote weapon stations, RBU-6000 rocket launchers, torpedo systems, and a modern hull-mounted sonar—making Taragiri a formidable multi-theatre combat platform.
