Russian-built Indian warship sets sail for maiden operation

The Indian Navy’s latest guided missile frigate, INS Tushul, will make several port calls on its way from Kaliningrad

INS Tushil, the Indian Navy’s latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, has begun its maiden operation deployment following its handover from Moscow to New Delhi last week, the Indian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday.

On its way to India from Kaliningrad, the ship will navigate through the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and ultimately the Indian Ocean, making several port calls in friendly countries.

During these visits, Tushil will engage in capability-building activities with host navies and interact with senior military and government leaders. The port calls will also provide an opportunity for engagement with the Indian diaspora in the region, the military said. “The ship will carry out joint patrolling and maritime partnership exercises with a number of navies en route, including piracy hotspots in the region,” it added.

INS Tushil, which translates as “the protector shield,” was commissioned on December 9 in the presence of Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and the chiefs of the Indian and Russian navies, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev. Tushil is classified as an upgraded Krivak III-class frigate of Project 1135.6. Currently, six of these frigates are in service with the Indian Navy, all of them built at the Russian shipyards.

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Designed by Russia’s Severnoye Design Bureau (part of United Shipbuilding Corporation), the frigate measures 125 meters in length and displaces 3,900 tons. According to the Indian military, the ship represents an “impressive blend of Russian and Indian cutting-edge technologies and best practices in warship construction.”

The construction of Tushil was closely supervised by an Indian team of specialists. Following its completion, the frigate underwent extensive trials that began in January.

INS Tushil is the first of two warships contracted by India in October 2016. The second frigate, INS Tamal, is currently undergoing testing in the Baltic Sea and is expected to join the Indian Navy in 2025. Two more vessels from this project are being constructed with Russian assistance at Goa Shipyard Limited in India, incorporating technology transfer from Russia.