INS Taragiri Boosts India’s Maritime Defence Capabilities
Why in the News ?
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Taragiri, a stealth frigate under Project 17A, at Visakhapatnam. The induction highlights India’s progress in indigenous defence manufacturing and strengthens its maritime security capabilities amid growing strategic importance of sea lanes. The project received necessary environmental clearances for construction at the naval dockyard, adhering to coastal regulation zone norms and environmental impact assessment requirements.
Key Features of INS Taragiri:
- INS Taragiri is a stealth guided-missile frigate, commissioned at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
- It is the fourth ship under Project 17A, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) following proper environmental clearances and EIA notification procedures.
- Displacement of around 6,670 tonnes, equipped with advanced stealth features and modern weapon systems.
- Incorporates over 75% indigenous content, reflecting progress in Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.
- Designed for multi-role operations including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.
Strategic Significance for India
- Strengthens India’s maritime security architecture in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Vital as 95% of India’s trade and significant energy supplies move through sea routes.
- Enhances Navy’s ability to secure key chokepoints like Persian Gulf and Malacca Strait.
- Supports humanitarian assistance, disaster relief (HADR), and evacuation missions.
- Contributes to India’s vision of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047 through strong maritime power.
| About Indian Navy and Maritime Security : ● Indian Navy is responsible for safeguarding India’s maritime borders and sea lanes of communication (SLOCs). ● India has a coastline of over 7,500 km (including islands ~11,000 km maritime boundary context), with naval infrastructure development subject to coastal regulation zone regulations. ● Key roles :○ Defence of territorial waters and EEZ ○ Power projection in IOR ○ Anti-piracy and maritime security operations ● Important initiatives: ○ Project 17A – stealth frigates programme ○ SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision ● Increasing focus on indigenisation under Make in India in defence sector, ensuring compliance with environmental impact assessment norms for shipbuilding facilities. |