Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the advanced stealth frigate INS Taragiri in Visakhapatnam on April 3. The warship is part of Project 17A of the Indian Navy.
Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan attended the event, alongside other senior Indian Navy officials.
The induction of Taragiri occurs amid growing strategic and maritime importance of India's eastern seaboard, driven by evolving regional security dynamics and India’s increasing engagement in the Indo-Pacific. The commissioning of the frigate underscores the Navy's focus on enhancing combat readiness and operational capabilities through its ambitious fleet expansion programme.
As the fourth platform of the Project 17A class, Taragiri is a 6,670-tonne vessel that embodies the ‘Make in India’ initiative and the advanced engineering skills of indigenous shipyards. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, the frigate presents a generational advancement over previous designs with a sleeker form and significantly reduced Radar Cross-Section, enabling it to operate with enhanced stealth.
Indigenous content exceeds 75 per cent in Taragiri, highlighting the maturity of India's domestic industrial ecosystem, which includes more than 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This supports thousands of Indian jobs and aligns with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbharta initiatives.
Powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, Taragiri is built for high-speed and high-endurance versatility across multi-dimensional maritime operations. The ship's weapon systems include supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missiles, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles, and a specialised Anti-Submarine Warfare suite, all integrated through a state-of-the-art Combat Management System that enables the crew to respond to threats with precision.
Beyond its combat role, Taragiri is designed to address modern diplomatic and humanitarian challenges. Its flexible mission profile allows it to undertake operations ranging from high-intensity combat to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
The Indian Navy continues to develop as a combat-ready, cohesive, and credible force that supports India's vision for a developed and prosperous nation. Representing vessels designed, built, and operated by Indians, Taragiri is positioned as a symbol of India's growing maritime power and a steadfast guardian of the country's maritime frontiers.