The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, INS Tushil, at Kaliningrad in Russia on Monday, in a ceremony presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of Project 1135.6, of which, six are already in service – three Talwar class ships, built at Baltiysky shipyard, St. Petersburg, and three follow-on Teg class ships, built at Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad.
INS Tushil, the seventh in the series, is the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on ships for which a contract was signed between JSC Rosoboronexport, the Indian Navy, and the government of India, in 2016.
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Packing a lethal punch and is an impressive blend of Russian and Indian cutting-edge technologies and best practices in warship construction, the 125 metre, 3,900 tonne INS Tushil has 26 per cent indigenous content and has 33 made-in-India systems.
Featuring enhanced stealth capabilities and better stability characteristics, INS Tushil, upon commissioning, will join the ‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy, the Western Fleet, under the Western Naval Command and will rank amongst the most technologically advanced frigates in the world.
The construction of the ship was closely monitored by an Indian team of specialists from the Warship Overseeing Team stationed at Kaliningrad.
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The ship has already undergone a series of extensive trials, including factory sea trials, state committee trials, and delivery acceptance trials, since January. These trials included the proving of all the Russian equipment fitted onboard, including weapon firings. During the trials, the ship clocked an impressive speed of more than 30 knots. With these trials being successfully completed, the ship would reach India in a near combat-ready condition.
INS Tushil is not only the symbol of the Indian Navy’s growing capabilities, but also of the resilient collaborative strength of the India-Russia partnership, the defence ministry said in a release.