New Delhi: India has taken a significant step forward in strengthening its maritime power with the commissioning of INS Tamal, a cutting-edge warship built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. Commissioned on July 1, INS Tamal is equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, advanced weaponry, and state-of-the-art warfare systems. The vessel is the eighth in the Krivak-class series and the second of the Tushil-class, and will now be deployed with the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, bolstering the country’s naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region.
The induction of INS Tamal marks a major milestone in Indo-Russian defence cooperation, reflecting decades of strong strategic and military ties between the two nations. As part of the same collaborative project, two more frigates of the Triput-class are currently under construction at Goa Shipyard Limited using Russian design and technology support. With INS Tamal being the last such warship to be built abroad, future warships of this class will be constructed in India, aligning with the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
Armed for multi-dimensional warfare, INS Tamal features a formidable weapons suite including vertical launch surface-to-air missiles, heavyweight torpedoes, quick-attack anti-submarine rockets, and a 100 mm naval gun. The warship also boasts network-centric warfare capabilities, a modern electronic warfare suite, and can operate at speeds exceeding 30 knots, making it suitable for rapid response and long-range operations. A crew of over 250 Indian naval personnel, trained in the harsh Russian winter conditions, will man the vessel, which has successfully completed multiple rigorous sea trials over the past three months.
Despite being built overseas, INS Tamal integrates 26 indigenous systems, including critical components of the BrahMos missile system, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The ship’s name, ‘Tamal’, is inspired by the mythical sword of Lord Indra, symbolising strength and precision—qualities the vessel is expected to embody in active service.
With its commissioning, INS Tamal stands as a powerful addition to India’s naval arsenal and a strong symbol of the country’s evolving maritime strategy. As geopolitical competition intensifies in the Indo-Pacific, the deployment of such advanced platforms underscores India’s commitment to regional security and its aspiration to be a leading maritime power.
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