Indian Navy to commission stealth frigate INS Taragiri in Visakhapatnam

New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing turmoil in the Indian Ocean region, the Indian Navy will commission its most modern stealth frigate Taragiri early next month, packing more punch to the maritime force's firepower.

The induction ceremony in Visakhapatnam on April 3 will be presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, official sources said here on Saturday.

To be named INS Taragiri, this is the fourth ship being commissioned under Project-17A (Nilgiri class), which involves the design and development of seven such frigates. Four of these warships were manufactured by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai while Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata constructed the rest.

The remaining three Project-17A ships – Mahendragiri, Dunagiri and Vindhyagiri –  were also likely to be commissioned in 2026, sources told DH.

With 75% indigenous content the 6,670 tonnes Taragiri – the third Nilgiri-class ship built by MDL – marks a major milestone in naval design, stealth, firepower, automation and survivability.

Driven by a combined diesel or gas propulsion plant, the warship is designed for "high speed, high endurance versatility and multi-dimensional maritime operations," a navy spokesperson said.

"Its weapon suite features supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium range surface-to-air missiles, and a specialised anti-submarine warfare suite," the spokesperson added. These systems are seamlessly integrated through a state-of-the-art combat management system, ensuring the crew can respond to threats with split-second precision.

The frigate features a sleeker design and a significantly reduced radar cross-section, allowing it to operate with lethal stealth.

Taragiri is among the 15 warships the Indian Navy seeks to commission in 2026 to expand its operational footprint. Last year, the navy commissioned 12 warships and a submarine.