The Indian Navy on Friday (November 28, 2025) received Taragiri, the latest stealth frigate built under the ambitious Project 17A, marking another major stride in India’s drive toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The ship, delivered by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, is the fourth vessel of the Nilgiri-class and the third constructed by MDL, an Indian Navy statement said.
What is Project 17A?
Project 17A is one of the Navy’s most advanced indigenous warship programmes, aimed at developing versatile multi-mission frigates capable of countering evolving maritime threats.
Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team (Mumbai), these ships represent a generational upgrade in stealth, survivability, and combat capability.
What are Taragiri’s capabilities?
The new Taragiri revives the name of the earlier Leander-class frigate that served the Navy for 33 years, from 1980 to 2013.
The reincarnated vessel reflects a significant leap in naval engineering, incorporating state-of-the-art technologies in weapons, sensors, automation, and platform management, all aligned with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
The frigate is equipped with a formidable weapons package, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, the MF-STAR multi-function radar, the MRSAM air-defence system, and a 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount.
Close-in weapon systems, along with torpedoes and ASW rockets, further strengthen its anti-submarine warfare profile.
Its Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, which uses both diesel engines and a gas turbine, drives Controllable Pitch Propellers and is managed through a fully integrated platform management system.
What does the Taragiri delivery mean to India?
Taragiri’s delivery also highlights improvements in India’s shipbuilding timelines. The vessel was completed in 81 months, significantly faster than the 93 months required for the lead ship Nilgiri.
It is the fourth P17A ship handed over in just 11 months, a notable achievement for the Indian shipbuilding ecosystem. The remaining three frigates–one at MDL and two at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE)–are scheduled for delivery by August 2026.
With 75% indigenous content and the involvement of over 200 MSMEs, Project 17A has generated employment for approximately 4,000 people directly and over 10,000 indirectly.
The delivery of Taragiri stands as a testament to India’s growing naval capabilities and its commitment to developing a world-class defence industrial base.