Rajnath Singh (7L) along with his Russian counterpart and other officials on board INS Tushil during the commissioning ceremony of the warship. (Photo: Indian Navy)
New Delhi: In yet another step towards Indian Navy’s modernization, INS Tushil, a state-of-the-art stealth guided-missile frigate was commissioned into the Indian Navy during a ceremony held at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, on Monday. The defence minister, Rajnath Singh was present during the occasion.
This marks the induction of the first of two advanced Talwar-class frigates constructed under a 2016 bilateral defence agreement between India and Russia. The other frigate, Tamal, will be delivered in early 2025.
The INS Tushil, named after the Sanskrit term for “protector”, represents a new class of frigates designed to bolster India’s maritime defence capabilities. It features cutting-edge stealth technology that minimizes radar detectability, advanced sensors for superior situational awareness, and sophisticated weaponry, including BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. These capabilities make it versatile for air-defence, anti-submarine warfare, and surface combat operations.
#INSTushil, The Protective Shield commissioned in the presence of #RakshaMantri, Shri @rajnathsingh at Kaliningrad #Russia today!#INSTushil joins the proud lineage of Talwar and Teg class frigates, a symbol of true friendship and growing technological cooperation between #India… https://t.co/29FZac2yDL pic.twitter.com/4sTN9zBqXg
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 9, 2024
About INS Tushil
Measuring 125 metres in length and displacing 3,900 tonnes, INS Tushil is a Talwar-class multirole guided-missile frigate. It boasts a top speed of over 30 knots ((56 kilometres per hour or 35 miles per hour)) and powered by M90FR gas turbines sourced from Ukraine. Notably, 26% of the ship’s systems are of Indian origin, which highlights the country’s growing emphasis on indigenization.
Key contributions include systems developed by Bharat Electronics and Nova Integrated Systems, alongside the BrahMos missile.
The commissioning of INS Tushil is a major milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to enhance its naval power amid evolving strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific. It also underscores the enduring defence collaboration between India and Russia, despite delays caused by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions.
The frigate will soon join the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy, operating under the Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command. Its induction is expected to significantly enhance India’s ability to safeguard its maritime interests and maintain regional stability.
This development reaffirms India’s focus on modernizing its naval assets to address both conventional and unconventional threats, ensuring robust defence capabilities in an increasingly contested maritime environment.
