The Indian Navy’s latest addition, the guided missile frigate INS Tushil, officially joined the fleet during a commissioning ceremony held in Kaliningrad, Russia. The event was attended by prominent figures including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, and various senior military officials from India.
INS Tushil is anticipated to significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy within the strategically crucial Indian Ocean region, especially against the backdrop of growing naval activity by China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy in recent years. This advanced warship is part of a larger agreement that New Delhi established with Moscow in 2016, which involves a deal worth over USD 2.5 billion for the procurement of four stealth frigates. Under the terms of the agreement, two of the frigates are to be constructed in Russia, while the remaining two are slated for manufacture in India.
During his address at the commissioning ceremony, Defence Minister Singh emphasized that INS Tushil represents a crucial step in reinforcing India’s maritime prowess and marks a significant milestone in the historically close relationship between India and Russia. “The ship serves as a testament to the collaborative strengths of Indian and Russian industries and embodies India’s journey towards achieving technological excellence through joint efforts,” he stated. Singh further articulated that both nations are poised to embark on a “new era” of cooperation across a range of advanced domains, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space exploration, and counter-terrorism initiatives.
The construction of INS Tushil was rigorously supervised by a dedicated Indian team known as the ‘Warship Overseeing Team’, who were stationed in Kaliningrad throughout the shipbuilding process. Weighing 3,900 tonnes and measuring 125 meters in length, the frigate boasts a formidable combination of Russian and Indian technologies along with best practices in naval architecture. Officials noted that the new design of the ship includes enhanced stealth features and superior stability characteristics.
The indigenous component of INS Tushil has been bolstered to an impressive 26 percent, thanks to the collaboration of Indian naval experts and Severnoye Design Bureau, along with contributions from major Indian defense firms such as BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, and Johnson Controls India.
INS Tushil is categorized as an upgraded Krivak III class frigate under Project 1135.6, representing a culmination of the dedicated efforts of numerous shipyard workers and a myriad of Original Equipment Manufacturers from both Russia and India.
