Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday commissioned the advanced stealth frigate INS Taragiri in Visakhapatnam. The warship is an advanced stealth frigate under Project 17A of the Indian Navy.
Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and Chief of Defense Staff Anil Chauhan were among those present, along with other senior officials of the Indian Navy.
Taragiri’s appointment comes at a time when the strategic and maritime importance of India’s east coast continues to grow, driven by evolving regional security dynamics and India’s deepening engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.
The commissioning of Taragiri highlights the Navy’s continued focus on enhancing its combat readiness and operational strength through its ambitious fleet augmentation programme.
As the powerful fourth platform of the Project 17A class, the Taragiri is not just a ship; She is a 6,670 tonne embodiment of the ‘Make in India’ spirit and cutting-edge engineering capabilities of our indigenous shipyards.
Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, this frigate represents a generational leap over previous designs, offering a sleeker shape and a significantly reduced radar cross-section allowing it to operate with deadly stealth. With a local content exceeding 75 per cent, the vessel highlights the maturity of the local industrial ecosystem that now spans over 200 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to the Aatmanirbharta initiatives launched by the Indian government and supporting thousands of Indian jobs.
Powered by a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion plant, Taragiri is designed for “high-speed-high-endurance” versatility and multi-dimensional offshore operations. The ship’s weapons suite is world-class, featuring supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, and a specialized anti-submarine warfare suite. These systems are seamlessly integrated through a sophisticated combat management system, ensuring the crew can respond to threats with split-second accuracy.
Beyond its role as master fisher of the seas, Taragiri was built to meet the complexities of modern diplomacy and humanitarian crises. Its flexible mission profile makes it ideal for everything from high-intensity combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
The Indian Navy continues to grow as a combat-ready, cohesive and credible force, an Atmanirbhar force, protecting the seas of Vixit, Samriddha Bharat guarded by ships designed by Indians, built by Indians and operated by Indians. Taragiri stands poised for a promising future as a beacon of rising naval power and a stern guardian of the country’s blue borders.
