In a major boost to India’s naval firepower, the Indian Navy is to commission its newest stealth multi-role frigate INS Tamal on July 1, 2025, at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.
Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, will preside over the commissioning ceremony. Tamal is the eighth Krivak-class frigate acquired from Russia and the second of the upgraded Tushil-class, a successor to the earlier Talwar and Teg classes.
The ship will be the last major warship to be inducted from a foreign shipyard, aligning with India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative.
What are INS Tamal’s standout features?
INS Tamal is a 125-meter-long, 3,900-ton frigate engineered for stealth, survivability, and high combat endurance. It can cruise at speeds exceeding 30 knots, and its firepower-to-tonnage ratio is among the highest in its class.
Tamal boasts a formidable array of weapons and systems:
- BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for land and sea targets
- Vertical Launch Surface-to-Air Missiles (VL-SAMs)
- A 100mm upgraded main gun
- 30mm Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS)
- Heavyweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets
- Advanced radar and EO/IR systems
- HUMSA NG Mk II sonar for underwater warfare
Additionally, Tamal is equipped with Network-Centric Warfare systems, modern Electronic Warfare (EW) suites, and a flight deck for AEW and multi-role helicopters, significantly extending its surveillance and strike envelope.
How is this ship different from its Russian-built predecessors?
While rooted in the Krivak design lineage, Tamal introduces a host of upgrades developed collaboratively by Russia’s Severnoye Design Bureau and Indian defence stakeholders. Notably, the indigenous content has been increased to 26%, double that of earlier imports.
A total of 33 Indian systems are integrated, supplied by leading Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like:
- BrahMos Aerospace
- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
- Keltron
- Nova Integrated Systems (Tata Group)
- Elcome Marine
- Johnson Controls India
This makes Tamal not just an imported platform but a hybrid showcase of Indian and Russian defence technologies, and a stepping stone toward more indigenised warships like the Triput-class, currently under construction at Goa Shipyard with Russian technical support.
What is the symbolic value of Tamal’s commissioning?
Tamal’s induction into the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, known as the ‘Sword Arm’ of the force, reinforces India’s maritime presence in the Arabian Sea and the western Indian Ocean.
Its commissioning in Kaliningrad also marks the end of India’s reliance on foreign warship acquisitions for major combat platforms, symbolising India’s rising naval capabilities at a time of growing geostrategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.
The name “Tamal” derives from the mythical sword of Indra, the king of the gods in Indian mythology. Its mascot— a fusion of Jambavant, the immortal bear-king of Indian lore, and the Eurasian brown bear, Russia’s national animal— is a nod to the Indo-Russian legacy embedded in the ship’s identity.
The ship’s motto, ‘Sarvada Sarvatra Vijaya’ translates to ‘Victorious Always, Everywhere’.