In what has been billed as "a proud testament to India’s growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in long-standing bilateral relations with Russia", the multi-role stealth guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, INS Tushil, was commissioned at the Kaliningrad-based Yantar shipyard.
The warship was commissioned on Monday in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Delighted to attend the commissioning ceremony of INS Tushil, the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, Singh, who is in Russia for a two-day visit, said in a tweet.
INS Tushil will now join the Western Fleet of the Navy and will rank amongst the most technologically advanced frigates in the world. It is expected to significantly boost the Indian Navy's operational capability in the Indian Ocean at a time when the region is witnessing increasing forays by China's PLA Navy.
The warship has been constructed in Russia as part of an over $2.5-billion deal that India inked with Russia in 2016 for four stealth frigates for the Indian Navy. The warship's construction was closely monitored by an Indian team of specialists from the 'Warship Overseeing Team' stationed at Kaliningrad.
Boasting enhanced stealth features and better stability characteristics, the 3,900-tonne ship with a length of 125 metres, packs a lethal punch and is an impressive blend of Russian and Indian cutting-edge technologies and best practices in warship construction.
