The Indian Navy expands further with the addition of the stealth frigate Taragiri after much fanfare when the INS Vikrant joined the maritime force. It is very significant that the INS Taragiri, an Indian-built frigate, made its official debut on September 11.

India Builds Its Naval Force

The consecutive events exemplify the Indian Navy's development from a buyer to a builder over time. As of 1964, India has produced over 90 naval vessels ranging in size from small boats to INS Vikrant, reported Indian Defense News.

A third of the frigate class was included under Project 17A, and these ships were deployed by a firm based in Mumbai called Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL).

Several months ago, MDL deployed two surface combatants for the Indian Navy: Surat, the fourth missile destroyer of the Visakhapatnam class, and Udaygiri, the second stealth frigate of the Nilgiri class, per Naval Technology. 

Based on the information provided by MDL, its indigenous element is 75%. The ship is assembled using an integrated design methodology that involves constructing the hull blocks in various places and incorporating them into the shipyard's slipway. Its hull was set on September 10, 2020, and it is anticipated to be delivered by August 2025.

India's Homemade Stealth Frigate

According to MDL, the 3,510-ton ship was designed by the navy's Directorate of Naval Design, and the Warship Oversight Team (Mumbai) monitored its development, noted India Today.

Stealth Frigate Taragiri has 149 meters long and 17.8 meters wide and has a dual gas turbine and main diesel engines that make about 28+ knots. It also displaces 6,670 tons.

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These P-17A frigate class ships are composed of low carbon, micro alloy-grade steel manufactured by SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited) which is warship grade steel.

Unlike the Indian Navy, which is getting newer ships for its naval forces, this stealth frigate will be outfitted with state-of-the-art weapons to compete head-to-head in contemporary maritime warfare.

Other essential systems include a sensor suite, a sophisticated response software solution, an integrated platform control system, upper modular living quarters, a sophisticated electrical distribution system, and other cutting-edge features.

Topping up the necessary systems for the INS Tanagiri's designs is a defense against aerial attack and anti-ship defenses, despite being smaller than a destroyer.

A vertical launch and long-range surface-to-air missile systems are its primary offensive weapons when attacking or defending itself. Dual 30-mm rapid-fire machine guns are the close-in weapon system (CIWS) for very close defense, followed by an India-made triple tube torpedo launcher/rocket launcher for taking out submarines.

The Frigate's 75% indigenous content is an advancement compared to the P-17 Shivalik-class ships, which is what it replaces. More than 100 MSMEs and a substantial chunk of domestic equipment and machinery from the nation's large industrial houses would be incorporated into INS Taragiri.

The "Make in India" policy has a renewed focus on developing the necessary industries to produce locally relevant technology, reducing India's reliance on importing technology from the west.

Development and building of the Stealth Frigate Taragiri; after the INS Vikrant shows a thrust by New Delhi to develop and construct its weapon technology separate from the west.

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