INS Tamal is the eighth warship under Project 1135.6 and the second vessel of the follow-on Tushil class. Its predecessor, INS Tushil, was inducted in December 2024
Pic/Indian Navy
The Indian Navy has commissioned its latest stealth frigate, INS Tamal (F71), at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. The ceremony was held in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, along with several senior officials from the Indian and Russian Navies and governments.
INS Tamal is the eighth warship under Project 1135.6 and the second vessel of the follow-on Tushil class. Its predecessor, INS Tushil, was inducted in December 2024. All ships in this series are part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet. The newly commissioned frigate is commanded by Captain Sridhar Tata, an expert in gunnery and missile warfare.
The commissioning ceremony opened with a joint Guard of Honour from the crew of INS Tamal and Russia’s Baltic Fleet. It was formally inaugurated by Andrey Sergeyevich Puchkov, Director General of United Shipbuilding Corporation. Mikhail Babich, Deputy Director General of Russia’s Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation, highlighted the deepening maritime cooperation between the two nations. Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, said the induction of Tamal reflected the strength of the Indo-Russian strategic partnership. He noted that the vessel is the 51st ship produced through Indo-Russian collaboration in the past 65 years and commended shipyard workers and OEMs from both countries for their contributions to India’s Make in India initiative.
Following the formal signing of the Delivery Act between the ship’s commanding officer and Russian officials, the Russian flag was lowered and the Indian Naval ensign was hoisted amid the national anthem and ceremonial salute. The commissioning pennant was also raised, signifying the ship’s official induction into naval service.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh described the commissioning of INS Tamal as a major milestone in India’s maritime defence preparedness and an important step forward in Indo-Russian defence cooperation. He praised the Tushil-class ships, including Tamal, for their advanced capabilities and reliability. He acknowledged the efforts of the Yantar Shipyard, Rosoboronexport, the Russian Ministry of Defence, and Indian agencies for successfully delivering the warship.
Although built in Russia, INS Tamal incorporates 26 percent indigenous content, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Humsa-NG sonar system. The construction of future vessels of this class in Indian shipyards is expected to further deepen bilateral defence production ties.
Launched in February 2022, INS Tamal underwent sea trials beginning in November 2024 and completed extensive testing of its systems by June 2025. It demonstrated successful firings of its missile systems, torpedoes, and other armaments during trials. The ship is armed with vertically launched BrahMos missiles, Shtil-1 surface-to-air missiles, a 100mm main gun, Close-In Weapon Systems, anti-submarine rockets, and heavyweight torpedoes. It is equipped with modern electronic warfare and surveillance systems, a combat management system, and can embark Kamov-28 and Kamov-31 helicopters for anti-submarine and airborne early warning operations.
INS Tamal is also outfitted with nuclear, biological, and chemical defence mechanisms, including fully integrated damage control and firefighting systems operated from protected control stations. These features enhance the ship’s survivability and mission readiness.
With a crew of approximately 250 sailors and 26 officers, the ship embodies the motto *“Sarvatra Sarvada Vijaya”* (Victory Always, Everywhere). It reinforces the Indian Navy’s commitment to being a combat-ready, credible, and future-focused force.
The ship will soon begin its journey to its homeport at Karwar in Karnataka. During its passage, it will make port calls and demonstrate its capabilities, arriving in India fully mission-ready and prepared to contribute to securing the nation’s maritime interests.
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