Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) on Sunday launched the third Stealth Frigate of Project 17A ‘”Taragiri”, a frigate when it is commissioned will among other things state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, an advanced action information system, an integrated platform management system and supersonic surface-to-surface missile system.
The keel of Taragiri was laid on September 10, 2020 and the ship is expected to be delivered by August 2025.
The 149.02 M long and 17.8 M wide ship, propelled by a CODOG combination of two Gas Turbines and 02 Main Diesel Engines, has been designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house design organization viz. Bureau of Naval Design. The MDL has undertaken the detailed design & construction of the ship which is also overseen by Warship Overseeing Team (Mumbai).
Designed to achieve a speed of over 28 knots at a displacement of approx. 6670 tons, the vessel was launched with an approximate launch weight of 3510 tons.
In view of the state-mourning announced by the Government of India over the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who passed away on September 8, the event was limited to a Technical Launch as the event is tide dependent, any change in the schedule was not possible.
The first ship of the Project 17A, ‘Nilgiri’ was launched on September 28 2019 and it is expected for sea trials in the first half of 2024. The second ship of P17A class ‘Udaygiri’ was launched on 17 May 2022 and is expected to start sea trials during the second half of 2024. The keel of fourth and final ship has already been laid on June 28.
The total value of the Project 17A is around Rs. 25,700 Crore.
“The indigenously designed ‘Taragiri’ will have state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, an advanced action information system, an integrated platform management system, world class modular living spaces, sophisticated power distribution system and a host of other advanced features,” an official statement said.
The ship will be fitted 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 the vertical launch and long range surface to air missile system,” the statement said.
According to the statement, 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. “Indigenously developed triple tube light weight torpedo launchers and rocket launchers will add punch to the ship’s anti-submarine capability,” the statement added.
The ship was named by Mrs Charu Singh, President, NWWA (Western Region), wife of Vice Adm Ajendra Bahadur Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, FOC-in-C Western Naval Command who was the chief guest on the occasion in presence of Vice Adm Narayan Prasad AVSM NM, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, MDL. VAdm K M Deshmukh AVSM, VSM, CWP&A and other dignitaries were present at the launch.