Context

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) recently launched the third Stealth Frigate of Project 17A “Taragiri”.

About

About Taragiri:

• Taragiri is the indigenously-designed Nilgiri-class stealth guided-missile frigateconstructed by Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
• Taragiri is the third stealth frigate built as part of Project 17Aunder which a series of such guided-missile frigates are being constructed for the Navy.
• The 149-metre-long and 17.8-metre-wide ship is propelled by a combination of two gas turbines and two main diesel engines which are designed to achieve a speed of more than 28 knots at a displacement of as much as 6,670 tonnes
• The steel used in the hull construction of P17A frigates is indigenously developed DMR 249A, which is a low carbon micro-alloy grade steel manufactured by the Steel Authority of India Limited. 
• Construction methodology: This ship has been built using integrated construction methodology.
• In this method, several modules of the vessel are pre-constructed and later fitted on the ship.
  
  

Important Features

• Base-design:It has been built with Niligir-like features.
• Stealth and modular profile: The two key features of the Taragiri ship are expected to be stealth and modular profile.
• Undetectable:The vessel has been constructed using composite materials which can decrease its infrared signal and maintain a low radar cross-section, making it almost undetectable.
• Missile system:It will be fitted with supersonic surface-to-surface missile system.
• Air defence capability:The ship’s air defence capability, designed to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles will revolve around the vertical launch and long range surface to air missile system.
• Gunfire support:Two 30 mm rapid-fire guns will provide the ship with close-in-defence capability while an SRGM Gun will enable her to provide effective naval gunfire support.
• Torpedo and rocket launcher: Indigenously developed triple tube light weight torpedo launchers and rocket launchers will add punch to the ship’s anti-submarine capability.

What is Project 17A of the Indian Navy?

• Project 17 Alpha frigates (P-17A) were launched by the Indian Navy in 2019.
• Objective: To construct a series of stealth guided-missile frigates, which are currently being constructed by two companies - Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
• Nilgiri: The first stealth ship launched under Project 17A was launched in 2019 and is expected to be commissioned in the Indian Navy by the end of this year.
• Udaygiri: The second ship was launched in May 2022, and likely to be commissioned in 2024.