Taragiri: All you need to know about stealth ship

The Indian Navy decided on Sunday to launch its third Nilgiri-class guided-missile frigate, dubbed ‘Taragiri,’ in a major achievement for the marine defence system. The Taragiri marine defence ship was launched as part of the Indian Army’s Project 17A, which was designed to launch a series of guided-missile frigates to strengthen the country’s marine defence system. The Taragiri is the project’s third such ship.

What is Project 17A of the Indian Navy?

The Indian Navy launched Project 17 Alpha frigates (P-17A) in 2019. The Indian defence forces launched the project to build a series of stealth guided-missile frigates, which are currently being built by two companies: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).

These guided-missile frigates were built with a stealth design that includes radar-absorbent coatings and is low-observable, making their approach undetectable to enemies. The new technology also reduces the ship’s infrared signals. The total value of Project 17A is around Rs 25,700 crores, the statement said. The keel of the fourth and final ship was laid on June 28, the statement said.

The first stealth ship launched under Project 17A was the Nilgiri, which 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 will likely be commissioned in 2024.

Features of Taragiri

Taragiri was launched on September 11 by the Indian Army as part of the Project 17A programme and is expected to be commissioned in the Navy by 2023. It has Niligir-like features and is designed similarly to the previous two warships.

The Taragiri ship is expected to have two key features: stealth and a modular profile. The vessel was built with composite materials that can reduce its infrared signal while maintaining a low radar cross-section, making it nearly undetectable. Furthermore, the Taragiri was built using the integrated modular construction methodology, in which several modules of the vessel are pre-fabricated and later assembled on the ship. The stealth vessel will be commissioned into the Indian Navy in February 2023.

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