New Delhi: In a major boost to India’s naval strength, the Indian Navy on Tuesday officially commissioned INS Tamal (F71), a powerful multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.
INS Tamal is the eighth and final ship in the Talwar-class (Project 1135.6) series, and the second follow-on Tushil-class frigate. It also holds a special place as the last major warship to be built abroad for India, aligning with the government’s push for indigenisation under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
The warship is commanded by Captain Sridhar Tata, who is an expert in gunnery and missile warfare. During the commissioning ceremony, a joint guard of honour was held by the Indian Navy and Russia’s Baltic Naval Fleet. Senior Russian official Mikhaeil Babich praised the long-standing maritime cooperation between the two countries.
Vice Admiral R Swaminathan, in charge of warship production, said that INS Tamal reflects the deep and strong Indo-Russian defence partnership, which has now delivered 51 ships over 65 years.
Chief guest Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh said that INS Tamal is a major milestone for India’s maritime defence and strategic ties with Russia. He mentioned that while the ship was built in Russia, it includes 26% Indian components, such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the HUMSA-NG sonar system. He also highlighted that the next two ships in the class will be built in India, strengthening both nations’ joint capabilities.
Features and capabilities of INS Tamal
*Equipped with BrahMos missiles, surface-to-air missiles, a 100 mm main gun, 30 mm Close-In Weapon Systems, anti-submarine rocket launchers, and heavy torpedoes.
*Can fight threats in air, surface, underwater, and electronic warfare.
*Comes with NBC defence systems and automated damage control and fire-fighting systems, ensuring safety during combat or emergencies.