Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to embark on a three-day visit to Russia beginning Sunday, marking a significant development in Indo-Russian defence cooperation.
The highlight of the visit will be the commissioning of the multi-role stealth frigate INS Tushil in Kaliningrad on 9 December.
The warship, hailed as one of the world’s most advanced guided missile frigates, is expected to bolster the Indian Navy’s operational strength, especially amid growing Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean.
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, will accompany Singh during the ceremony.
Singh will co-chair the 21st India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) in Moscow on 10 December alongside Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov.
The discussions are expected to encompass a wide range of defence-related topics, including military-to-military ties, industrial collaboration, and contemporary global and regional issues.
The visit comes months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where both leaders agreed to deepen bilateral defence engagements.
A readout from the Defence Ministry stated, “They will also exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest.”
During the Moscow leg of his visit, Singh will honour Soviet soldiers by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and interact with members of the Indian community.
The Defence Ministry confirmed, “As part of the visit, the defence minister will also commission the Indian Navy’s latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate ‘INS Tushil’ at Yantra Shipyard, Kaliningrad, on 9 December.”
The warship, constructed in Russia, is part of India’s broader push for advanced naval capabilities in collaboration with foreign partners.
Singh’s discussions with Belousov will likely prioritise the co-production of military hardware, a long-standing pillar of Indo-Russian defence ties.
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