The Indian Navy has received Taragiri, the fourth ship of its Nilgiri-class stealth frigate program, during a formal handover at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai. The milestone underscores India’s rising capability to produce complex warships domestically and reinforces its long-term plan to strengthen maritime power in the Indo-Pacific region.
This frigate, identified as Yard 12653, forms part of the expansive Project 17A initiative, which includes seven state-of-the-art vessels. Navy officials noted that Taragiri’s delivery highlights significant progress in India’s naval modernization drive, emphasizing improvements in stealth shaping, sensor fusion, and mission adaptability. The Nilgiri-class is considered a key component of India’s strategy to maintain deterrence and operational reach amid increasing maritime competition.
Reviving the legacy of the first INS Taragiri, the new frigate is a next-generation, multi-role combatant engineered for high-end naval warfare. The vessel benefits from low-observable design elements such as angled surfaces, integrated radar arrays, and thermal signature reduction systems. Below the surface, refined hull geometry, a bulbous bow, and noise-reduction features enhance the ship’s acoustic stealth—critical for anti-submarine missions and silent operation in contested environments.
Taragiri’s weapons suite reflects its role as a frontline combat platform. Its offensive firepower is anchored by the BrahMos supersonic missile, providing long-range strike capability with high precision. For layered air defense, the ship deploys the MF-STAR radar in conjunction with MRSAM vertical-launch missiles to counter aircraft, drones, and incoming missiles. The close-in protection system includes a 76mm SRGM, twin 30mm mounts, and remote weapon stations. The frigate’s anti-submarine arsenal features torpedo tubes, RBU-6000 rocket launchers, and a modern hull-mounted sonar, giving it robust undersea warfare capability across multiple maritime zones.
