SAIL Supplies 4,000 Tonnes of Indigenous Steel for INS Taragiri, Strengthening India’s Defence Manufacturing

INS Taragiri, the fourth Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on April 3, 2026, at Visakhapatnam. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and powered by 4,000 tonnes of indigenous steel from Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the warship marks a major milestone in India’s defence indigenisation and maritime self-reliance.

The Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) frigates are India’s latest generation of indigenous stealth warships, designed as versatile multi-mission platforms with advanced stealth, automation, and firepower. They represent a major leap in self-reliant naval shipbuilding under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.  

Key Highlights of INS Taragiri Commissioning

⚓️ Legacy. Power. Purpose.

From steel to sea, #Taragiri stands ready.#IndianNavy is set to commission #INSTaragiri.

🗓️ 03 April 2026
📍 Visakhapatnam
A testament to strength, precision & #Aatmanirbharta.#RiseAbove @indiannavy @IN_HQENC @IN_WNC @IN_HQSNC pic.twitter.com/DhRO1pzLT7

— IN (@IndiannavyMedia) April 1, 2026

• Commissioning Date & Venue: April 3, 2026, Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam
• Presiding Dignitary: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the ceremony
• Shipbuilder: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai
• Class & Project: Fourth vessel of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A)
• Displacement: Approx. 6,670 tonnes
• Steel Supply: 4,000 tonnes of special-grade steel supplied by SAIL

Role of SAIL in Defence Indigenisation

• Supplied DMR 249A grade hot-rolled sheets and plates
• Earlier contributions include INS Vikrant, INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, INS Udaygiri
• Reinforces Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India

Project 17A – India’s Stealth Frigate Program

• Total of seven frigates under construction at MDL and GRSE
• Successor to Shivalik-class with enhanced stealth and automation
• INS Taragiri named after the erstwhile Leander-class frigate (1980–2013)

Ships in the Class

1. INS Nilgiri – Lead ship, launched 2019, commissioned 2025.
2. INS Himgiri – Delivered July 2025 (GRSE). 
3. INS Udaygiri – Commissioned 2025. 
4. INS Taragiri – Commissioned April 3, 2026 (MDL). 
5. INS Dunagiri – Delivered March 30, 2026 (GRSE). 
6. INS Vindhyagiri – Launched August 2023.  
7. INS Mahendragiri – Under construction.  

Strategic Significance

• Strengthens India’s ability to safeguard its 11,000 km coastline
• Demonstrates domestic capacity to design and build complex warships
• Showcases collaboration between MDL and SAIL

Below is a comparison table between the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) and its predecessor, the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates. This highlights the technological leap India has made in stealth warship design:

Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) Vs Shivalik-class (Project 17)

The Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) frigates represent India’s latest generation of indigenous stealth warships, building on the foundation of the Shivalik-class (Project 17).

Key Features of Nilgiri-class (Project 17A)

• Advanced stealth shaping, infrared suppression, and acoustic quieting
• Displacement of ~6,670 tonnes
• High automation with reduced crew workload
• 75% indigenous content including SAIL steel
• Equipped with BrahMos missiles, Barak-8 SAM, and advanced CIWS

Comparison Table

Feature	Shivalik-class (Project 17)	Nilgiri-class (Project 17A)
Commissioning Period	2010–2012	2025–2026 (ongoing)
Number of Ships	3 (INS Shivalik, INS Satpura, INS Sahyadri)	7 planned (INS Nilgiri, Himgiri, Udaygiri, Taragiri, Dunagiri, Vindhyagiri, Mahendragiri)
Displacement	~6,200 tonnes	~6,670 tonnes
Length	~142 meters	~149 meters
Beam	~16.9 meters	~17.8 meters
Propulsion	CODOG (LM2500 gas turbines + Pielstick diesels)	CODOG (LM2500 gas turbines + MAN diesels)
Speed	~30 knots	~32 knots
Range	~5,000 nautical miles	~2,500 nautical miles
Stealth Features	Basic radar signature reduction	Advanced stealth shaping, infrared suppression, acoustic quieting
Weapons	Klub missiles, Barak-1 SAM, AK-630 CIWS	BrahMos missiles, Barak-8 SAM, advanced CIWS
Automation	Moderate digital integration	High automation, reduced crew workload
Indigenous Content	~60%	~75% (including SAIL steel)
Shipbuilders	MDL (Mumbai)	MDL (Mumbai) & GRSE (Kolkata)

Key Takeaway

• Shivalik-class was India’s first indigenous stealth frigate program
• Nilgiri-class builds on that foundation with greater stealth, automation, and indigenous content
• Represents one of the most capable frigate classes in Asia

The Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) frigates are central to India’s naval modernization, combining indigenous design, advanced weapons, and strategic self-reliance.

The commissioning of INS Taragiri is not just a naval milestone but a symbol of India’s growing industrial and defence ecosystem. With SAIL’s indigenous steel at its core, the frigate embodies the nation’s push toward Atmanirbhar Bharat, ensuring that India’s maritime strength is forged at home.