Taragiri and Project 17A

Why in news?

• Recently, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), which is under the Ministry of Defence, launched Taragiri, the third stealth frigate of Project 17A.

What is Project 17A?

• Project 17 Alpha frigates (P-17A) were launched by the Indian Navy in 2019 to construct a series of stealth guided-missile frigates.
• These are currently being constructed by two companies - Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
• These guided-missile frigates have been constructed with a specific stealth design, which has radar-absorbent coatings and is low-observable which can make its approach undetectable for the enemies.
• The new technology also reduces the infrared signals of the ship.
• The first stealth ship launched under Project 17A was the Nilgiri, which was launched in 2019.
• Udaygiri, the second ship, was launched in May 2022, and will likely be commissioned in 2024.
• Further, seven P17A Frigates are under various stages of construction at MDL and GRSE.

Add ons:

• Taragiri is named after a hill range in the Himalayas located at Garhwal. It will be fitted with a supersonic surface-to-surface missile system.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

‘Taragiri’, recently launched by Indian Armed Force, is a

(a) Stealth guided-missile frigate

(b) Anti-satellite (ASAT) missile

(c) Anti-tank guided missile

(d) Aircraft carrier

Answer