The third stealth-guided missile frigate of Project 17A, ‘Taragiri,’ was launched into the Arabian Sea in Mumbai on September 11, marking a significant step forward in India’s defence indigenisation programme.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), based in Mumbai, is constructing the Nilgiri-class of ships for the Indian Navy as part of Project 17A.
Ships in the series of Project 17A
Nilgiri, the first ship of Project 17A, was launched on September 28, 2019, and is scheduled to be ready for sea trials in the first half of 2024.
The P17A class’s second ship, ‘Udaygiri,’ was launched on May 17, 2022, and is expected to begin sea trials in the second half of 2024.
On September 11, the third ship in the series, ‘Taragiri,’ whose keel was laid on September 10, 2020, was launched. The ship is scheduled to arrive in 2025.
On June 28, 2022, the keel of the fourth and final ship was laid.
The total cost of Project 17A is estimated to be around Rs 25,700 crores.
In accordance with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ notification declaring a state of mourning in the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, the event was limited to a technical launch. Because the event is tide
dependent, any change in the schedule was not possible.
Charu Singh, President, NWWA, Western Region, and wife of Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command, who was the chief guest on the occasion, named the ship in the presence of Vice Admiral (Retd) Narayan Prasad, Chairman and Managing Director, MDL.
About ‘Taragiri’
This ship was built using an integrated construction methodology that included hull block construction in various geographical locations and integration/erection on the MDL slipway. The vessel is being launched with a launch weight of approximately 3510 tonnes.
The ship was created by the Indian Navy’s in-house design team, the Bureau of Naval Design. MDL is in charge of the ship’s detailed design and construction, which is also overseen by the Warship Oversight Team (Mumbai).
The 149.02 M long and 17.8 M wide ship is propelled by a CODOG combination of two gas turbines and two main diesel engines, which are designed to achieve a speed of over 28 knots at a displacement of approximately 6670 tonnes.
The steel used in the hull construction of the P17A frigates is an indigenously developed DMR 249A, a low carbon micro-alloy grade steel manufactured by SAIL. The indigenously designed ‘Taragiri’ will have cutting-edge weapons, sensors, an advanced action information system, an integrated platform management system, world-class modular living spaces, a sophisticated power distribution system, and a slew of other advanced features. It will be outfitted with a supersonic surface-to-surface missile system.
The ship’s air defence capability, designed to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles, will revolve around a vertical launch and long-range surface-to-air missile system.
Two 30 mm rapid-fire guns will provide the ship with close-in defence capability, while an SRGM Gun will allow her to provide effective naval gunfire support. Indigenously developed triple tube lightweight torpedo launchers and rocket launchers will beef up the ship’s anti-submarine capability.
