The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) played a crucial role in constructing ‘INS Taragiri,’ the fourth stealth frigate under Project 17A, recently commissioned into the Indian Navy. This 6,670-tonne frigate, designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, boasts advanced stealth capabilities for multi-role operations. SAIL supplied approximately 4,000 tonnes of special-grade steel plates for the warship’s construction, produced at its Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela plants.
The INS Taragiri, with over 75% indigenous content, is equipped with advanced systems like radar, sonar, and missile platforms, including BrahMos and surface-to-air missiles, enhancing its combat and maritime security capabilities. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, at the commissioning, hailed the warship as a testament to India’s technological prowess and self-reliance in defence manufacturing. He emphasized the significance of a robust naval capability for safeguarding India’s trade and energy security reliant on maritime routes.
Capable of sustained high-speed operations and extended sea deployment, INS Taragiri can perform diverse missions such as high-intensity combat, anti-piracy operations, coastal surveillance, and humanitarian assistance. SAIL, having previously supplied specialized steel for key naval platforms like INS Vikrant, marks ‘INS Taragiri’s commissioning as a stride towards India’s defence indigenization and maritime capabilities enhancement.
