The Indian Navy is preparing to commission its latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, INS Tushil, at a ceremony in Kaliningrad, Russia, on December 9. The event will be presided over by India's Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, who will be the chief guest.
Along with him, several senior Indian and Russian officials will attend the ceremony, marking a significant milestone in the growing India-Russia defence cooperation.
INS Tushil is part of the upgraded Krivak III class frigates under Project 1135.6. Six ships of this class are already operational.
Three of them are Talwar-class frigates, which were built at the Baltisky Shipyard in St. Petersburg, and three are the Teg-class ships, built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad.
INS Tushil is the seventh ship in this series and is one of two additional follow-on ships to be built. The contract for these ships was signed in October 2016 between the Russian company JSC Rosoboronexport, the Indian Navy, and the Government of India.
The construction of INS Tushil has been closely monitored by a team of Indian naval specialists. This team was stationed in Kaliningrad under the supervision of the Indian Embassy in Moscow, ensuring that the ship met the Indian Navy’s standards.
The Ministry of Defence praised the dedication of hundreds of shipyard workers, as well as the efforts of multiple Russian and Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who contributed to the creation of the warship.
Following its construction, INS Tushil underwent a rigorous set of trials starting in January of this year. These included factory sea trials, state committee trials, and delivery acceptance trials conducted by an Indian team of experts.
The ship was tested for all aspects of its performance, including weapon firings. During these trials, it achieved an impressive speed of more than 30 knots. With all trials successfully completed, the ship will soon arrive in India in a near-combat-ready state, poised to be operational from the outset.
The ship’s name, INS Tushil, translates to ‘the protector shield,’ and its crest symbolises an ‘impenetrable shield,’ or ‘Abhedya Kavacham’ in Sanskrit. The motto, ‘Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel,’ meaning ‘Fearless, Indomitable, and Resolute,’ reflects the ship’s role in safeguarding India’s maritime security.
As part of the Indian Navy, INS Tushil will serve as a powerful reminder of the Navy's dedication to protecting the country’s maritime borders.
The ship is 125 metres long and weighs 3,900 tonnes. It is a formidable vessel, equipped with a blend of Russian and Indian cutting-edge technologies. These features enhance its stealth capabilities, stability, and overall combat effectiveness.
The collaborative effort between Indian and Russian engineers has resulted in a vessel that boasts a 26 per cent indigenous content, with the number of Indian-made systems more than doubling to 33.
Key Indian OEMs, including BrahMos Aerospace, Bharat Electronics, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, and Johnson Controls India, have played an important role in equipping the warship with state-of-the-art technology.
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