India’s latest stealth missile frigate, INS Tushil, was officially commissioned into the Indian Navy at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. The ceremony took place in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who hailed the warship as a proud testament to India’s growing maritime capabilities and a significant milestone in the long-standing ties between India and Russia.
During the ceremony, Singh emphasized the strong bilateral ties between the two nations, highlighting Russia’s support for India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative. He noted that the indigenous content of INS Tushil is approximately 26%, which is double that of the previous Teg-class frigates. This increased local manufacturing includes contributions from 33 firms, among them Bharat Electronics Limited, BrahMos Aerospace—an India-Russia joint venture—and Tata Advanced Systems Limited’s subsidiary, Nova Integrated Systems.
INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate from Project 1135.6, joining a fleet that already includes six such vessels. This latest addition is part of a broader $2.5 billion agreement with Russia for the production of four more Krivak/Talwar class stealth frigates. Two of these vessels are under construction at the Yantar shipyard, while two others will be built at Goa Shipyard Limited with technology transferred from Russia. The next frigate, named Tamal, is anticipated to be commissioned into the Indian Navy by mid-2025.
Singh expressed confidence that India and Russia will unlock the full potential of their bilateral cooperation, particularly in new areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space exploration, and counter-terrorism. He noted the increasing synergy between the two navies and their commitment to ensuring the safety of maritime trade in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Singh underscored the Indian Navy’s achievements in combating piracy and smuggling, affirming its role as a net security provider in the region.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin, Kaliningrad Governor Alexey Sergeyevich Besprozvannykh, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev. Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi congratulated the project team for their contributions, particularly highlighting the seamless integration of Indian and Russian technologies.
INS Tushil, with a displacement of 3,900 tonnes, is designed for blue water operations and is equipped for naval warfare across air, surface, underwater, and electromagnetic domains. Its advanced armaments include BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles with extended ranges, upgraded anti-air and surface guns, and a range of electronic warfare and communication systems. The frigate is also compatible with advanced anti-submarine and early warning helicopters.
After a construction period that began with the keel being laid in July 2013, INS Tushil was launched in October 2021 and completed extensive trials by September 2024, demonstrating impressive speeds exceeding 30 knots. The ship is commanded by Captain Peter Varghese, a specialist in gunnery and missile systems.
As Singh continues his three-day visit to Russia, he is scheduled to co-chair the 21st meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MT) in Moscow. However, concerns remain about potential impacts of U.S.-led sanctions against Russia, which have complicate some defense projects and procurement of replacement parts for legacy systems. As India forges ahead in its defense endeavors, the commissioning of INS Tushil marks a pivotal moment in enhancing the Indian Navy’s operational capabilities and reinforcing India’s commitment to maritime security.
