End of an Era: India Commissions Its Last Foreign-Built Frigate
India is set to commission INS Tamal, a stealthy multi-role frigate, on July 1, 2025, at Kaliningrad, Russia. The ceremony will be presided over by Western Naval Commander Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh, with representation from senior Indian and Russian defence officials, marking a major milestone as the last warship India will import.
Powered for the Future: A Stealthy, Lethal Platform
INS Tamal displaces approximately 3,900 tonnes and is the upgraded Krivak-III/Talwar-Class, originally Project 11356. It features advanced stealth technology, sensors, and a potent armament suite, including supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles, Shtil-1 surface-to-air missiles, a 100 mm medium gun, close-in weapon systems, anti-submarine torpedoes and rockets, and space for a multi-role helicopter. The frigate can reach speeds above 30 knots, with an operational range around 3,000 km.
From Russian Assembly to Indian Fleet
Constructed at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, INS Tamal was laid down in November 2013 (as Admiral Istomin). After extensive construction and trials, including manufacturer, State Committee, and delivery-acceptance exercises, a 200-strong Indian naval crew trained in St. Petersburg and joined the final stages of trials, including weapons firing. Originally slated for delivery in late 2024, Tamal’s commissioning was delayed but stayed on track for mid-2025 despite Covid, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain issues.
A New Chapter: Self-Reliance in Defence
INS Tamal represents the last warship India will commission from abroad. The 2016 Indo-Russian defence deal encompassed four frigates – two built in Russia (INS Tushil, commissioned Dec 2024; and Tamal) and two in India at Goa Shipyard under transfer of technology. The indigenous content on these vessels is approaching 26%, shared between Indian firms like BrahMos Aerospace, Bharat Electronics, Keltron, Tata’s Nova Integrated Systems, and Johnson Controls India. Future frigates will be designed and built entirely domestically, signalling a strategic pivot: “from a buyer’s navy to a builder’s navy.”
Strategic Implications: Asia-Pacific and Beyond
INS Tamal boosts India’s maritime muscle in the Indo-Pacific. Armed with BrahMos missiles and anti-submarine weapons, plus stealth and airborne surveillance capabilities, it adds a formidable layer to the Western Fleet based at Karwar. This comes amid heightened regional tensions: competition with Pakistan in the Arabian Sea, a rising Chinese naval presence, and evolving security dynamics.
India-Russia Defence Partnership: Evolving but Enduring
The commissioning also underscores the robust legacy of Indo-Russian defence cooperation. The December 15, 2024 induction of INS Tushil was attended by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, who hailed the partnership as entering a new era – extending beyond hardware to AI, cyber security, space exploration, and counter-terrorism. Despite global pressures from the Russia-Ukraine war, agreements such as engine supply from Ukraine (Zorya-Mashproekt turbines), contract execution, and timely project completion exemplify adept diplomatic and industrial coordination.
Looking Ahead: The Build-Up Continues
While Tamal marks the end of foreign warship imports, India’s naval expansion is far from over. As of early 2025, 64 vessels are under construction, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines, across Indian shipyards, targeting a fleet of 200 vessels and 500 aircraft by 2050. The two Goa-built frigates, Triput and Tavasya, are set for commissioning by mid-2026.
Charting a Course into New Operational Frontiers
The induction of INS Tamal reinvigorates India’s Eastern and Western maritime security footprint. With capabilities spanning anti-surface, anti-air, anti-submarine, and electronic warfare, as well as power projection via helicopter-borne operations, the frigate is primed to bolster India’s “gatekeeper” role in the Indian Ocean, safeguarding sea lines of communication and engaging in naval diplomacy across regions from the Horn of Africa to Southeast Asia.
INS Tamal’s commissioning on 1 July 2025 concludes the era of importing warships and heralds a new chapter of indigenous naval strength. It strengthens India’s maritime deterrence and underlines the strategic transition towards self-reliance, resilient defence industrialization, and a modern blue-water navy capable of securing interests across the Indo-Pacific.
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