INS Tamal Commissioned in Russia: Final Foreign-Built Warship Joins Indian Navy Fleet

In a major boost to India’s maritime capabilities and its decades-old defence partnership with Russia, the Indian Navy on Tuesday commissioned INS Tamal (F71), a multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad.

INS Tamal marks the last foreign-built major warship to be inducted into the Indian Navy, aligning with the Government of India’s strategic push for indigenisation under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

End of an Era: Last of Russian-Made Warships

The newly inducted frigate is the eighth ship in the Project 1135.6 series, also known as the Talwar-class, and the second of the follow-on Tushil-class frigates. The previous seven warships in the class currently serve under the Western Naval Command, forming the backbone of the Navy’s Western Fleet.

Commanded by Captain Sridhar Tata, a decorated specialist in gunnery and missile warfare, INS Tamal is set to join its homeport at Karwar, Karnataka, in the coming days.

Indo-Russian Defence Partnership: 51 Ships in 65 Years

The commissioning ceremony featured a ceremonial joint guard of honour by personnel from both the ship’s crew and Russia’s Baltic Naval Fleet.

Speaking at the event, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and chief guest, called the induction a “milestone in India’s maritime defence capability and Indo-Russian strategic ties.” He highlighted that INS Tamal joins the prestigious ranks of Talwar, Teg, and Tushil-class ships, all recognised for their combat excellence and operational reliability.

Vice Admiral R. Swaminathan, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, underscored that Tamal reflects “the depth of Indo-Russian naval cooperation,” adding that this ship is the 51st to be produced under the partnership in the past 65 years.

Mikhaeil Babich, Deputy Director General of Russia’s Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation, also reaffirmed the strength of the longstanding maritime collaboration between the two nations.

Indigenous Edge: 26% Indian-Made Components

Despite being constructed in Russia, INS Tamal features 26% indigenous systems, including the state-of-the-art BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the HUMSA-NG sonar system, both developed in India.

Vice Admiral Singh noted, “The construction of the next two ships in this class within India further boosts our self-reliance and strengthens joint capabilities.”

Blue-Water Capabilities: Combat-Ready Across All Domains

Designed for long-range, blue-water operations, INS Tamal is equipped to handle threats across all four dimensions of naval warfare — air, surface, sub-surface, and electronic.

Key Armaments & Features:

• BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles (dual-role)

• Vertically launched surface-to-air missiles (extended range)

• 100 mm main gun and 30 mm Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS)

• Anti-submarine rocket launchers and heavyweight torpedoes

• NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) defence systems

• Advanced damage control and firefighting systems, fully automated and centrally controlled

Future Forward: Towards a Self-Reliant Navy

The induction of INS Tamal not only enhances India’s maritime strike capabilities but also signals the transition toward a more indigenous naval fleet, with the remaining frigates in this class to be built domestically.

INS Tamal now sets course for Karwar, where it will be integrated into the Navy’s growing blue-water fleet, playing a crucial role in regional maritime security and strategic deterrence.

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