Defence Minister Rajnath Singh officially commissioned the latest addition to the Indian Navy, the multi-role, stealth-guided missile frigate INS Tushil, at a ceremony held in Kaliningrad, Russia. The event took place on December 9 as part of Singh’s official visit to Russia from December 8 to 10. His visit includes co-chairing the 21st meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MT), alongside his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov, scheduled for December 10 in Moscow.
INS Tushil is an upgraded version of the Krivak III class frigate from Project 1135.6, marking a significant milestone as it becomes the seventh ship in this series. This new frigate follows a total of six already in active service: three Talwar Class vessels manufactured at the Baltiysky shipyard in St. Petersburg and three Teg Class ships built at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad. INS Tushil is notable for being the first of two additional upgraded frigates resulting from a contract signed in October 2016 between the JSC Rosoboronexport, the Indian Navy, and the Indian government.
The construction of INS Tushil was closely supervised by a dedicated team of Indian specialists from the Warship Overseeing Team, stationed in Kaliningrad under the auspices of the Indian Embassy in Moscow. According to an official statement from the Ministry of Defence, the vessel measures 125 meters in length and weighs 3,900 tonnes, showcasing advanced technology fusion from both Russia and India and leveraging best practices in warship design.
The new design of INS Tushil provides it with enhanced stealth capabilities and improved stability features. With a notable increase in indigenous content to 26%, the ship incorporates over 33 ‘Made-in-India’ systems, more than doubling the contribution from Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Key Indian companies involved in the development included BrahMos Aerospace, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, and Johnson Controls India.
Starting from January earlier in the year, INS Tushil underwent a rigorous test schedule. This included factory sea trials, state committee assessments, and ultimately delivery acceptance trials overseen by a team of Indian specialists. During these trials, the frigate achieved impressive speed, exceeding 30 knots.
INS Tushil is set to arrive in India in a nearly combat-ready state and is described as prepared to “deliver its effects from the word go.” The name ‘Tushil’ translates to ‘the protector shield,’ and the ship’s crest symbolizes ‘Abhedya Kavacham,’ or ‘impenetrable shield.’ Its motto, ‘Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel’ (Fearless, Indomitable, Resolute), embodies the Navy’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests.
With this commissioning, INS Tushil joins the Western Fleet under the Western Naval Command, enhancing the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy’s ‘Sword Arm.’
