On July 1, 2025, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tamal (F71), a multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy (IN) at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia in the presence of senior Indian and Russian naval officials, including Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command (WNC).
- INS Tamal is the last foreign-built major warship to be inducted into the IN, in line with the Government of India (GoI)’s emphasis on indigenization under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
- The ship is the eighth in the series of Project 1135.6 (Talwar class) and the second vessel in the follow-on Tushil-class of ships.
Background:
i.In 2016, India and Russia entered into an intergovernmental agreement valued at Rs.21,000 crore for the construction of four stealth frigates.
ii.The IN secured four advanced Krivak/Talwar-class stealth frigates. Two of these, INS Tushil and INS Tamal, were constructed at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad.
- INS Tushil was commissioned in December 2024 and reached India in February 2025, while the remaining two frigates(Triput class) are currently underway at Goa Shipyard Limited(GSL) in Vasco da Gama, Goa.
About INS Tamal:
i.INS Tamal is designed for blue water operations across the spectrum of naval warfare in all four dimensions such as air, surface, underwater and electromagnetic.
- The name ‘Tamal’ comes from the mythical sword of Lord Indra and the ship’s crew, called ‘The Great Bears’, reflects a mix of Indian and Russian culture.
ii.It was launched in February 2022 and sailed for maiden trials in November 2024.
iii.INS Tamal is equipped with BrahMos Supersonic cruise missiles, Shtil-1 surface-to-air missiles, a 100 millimeter (mm) main gun, torpedo tubes and RBU-6000 anti-submarine rockets.
iv.It is armed with the AK-630 30 mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), designed to neutralize threats like drones and incoming anti-ship missiles. It also features a modern Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) system that enhances target acquisition and tracking capabilities both day and night.
- The warship features the ‘SHTIL’ vertical launch air defence system, which includes the Vertical Launch Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (VLSRAAM) and the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM).
v.With a top speed exceeding 30 knot, the 125 metre (m) long, 3,900-tonne(t) frigate boasts a high tonnage-to-firepower ratio, featuring cutting-edge Indian and Russian technologies.
vi.The ship is capable of embarking Kamov-28 (anti-submarine) and Kamov-31 (airborne early warning) helicopters, giving it extended situational awareness and strike range.
vii.The warship is commanded by Captain Sridhar Tata, a specialist in gunnery and missile warfare. The ship is headed to its homeport in Karwar, Karnataka.
- The ship is manned by 26 officers and around 250 sailors. It will operate under the Western Fleet, the IN’s primary strike formation in the Arabian Sea.
About Indian Navy(IN):
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral Dinesh K Tripathy
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established –1950
