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The Indian Navy is set to commission its latest stealth frigate, INS Tamal, at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, on July 1. This event marks a significant milestone in Indo-Russian naval cooperation, according to officials familiar with the development. INS Tamal is the second of four advanced Talwar-class frigates being built under a $2.5 billion bilateral agreement. It will also be the last major Indian warship commissioned on foreign soil for the foreseeable future.
The commissioning ceremony will be presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, the official added. Once inducted, INS Tamal will bolster India’s maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as part of the Navy’s Mumbai-based Western Fleet and is expected to arrive on the Indian west coast by September.
Strategic Context: An End of an Era
INS Tamal represents more than just a powerful addition to India’s fleet—it signals the culmination of a critical Indo-Russian shipbuilding collaboration that began with the induction of the Talwar class in the early 2000s. Following its predecessor, INS Tushil, which was commissioned in December 2024, Tamal reflects a technological evolution in the proven Project 1135.6 Krivak-III class, featuring enhanced indigenous systems and stealth capabilities.
With India’s focus now shifting toward domestic warship construction, including two more frigates being built at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) under technology transfer, Tamal is likely to be the last Indian Navy warship commissioned abroad—marking the end of an era in India’s naval modernization journey.
INS Tamal: A Lethal Blend of Firepower and Stealth
INS Tamal is a multi-role stealth frigate capable of executing a wide spectrum of missions—from combat operations to long-range deployments, anti-submarine warfare, disaster relief, and search-and-rescue missions.
Combat Power:
The warship packs a potent punch with a modern, integrated weapons suite:
- BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missiles (Indian origin) for precision land and sea strike.
- Shtil-1 Vertical Launch Surface-to-Air Missile System for aerial threats.
- 190-01 Medium-Range Gun (100mm), AK-630 Close-In Weapon System, Heavyweight Torpedoes, and Anti-Submarine Rockets for a layered defence.
- PK-10 Passive Decoy Chaff System for soft-kill measures against incoming threats.
Sensor Fusion & Situational Awareness:
Equipped with state-of-the-art sensors for 360-degree maritime domain awareness:
- Fregat M2EM and Positive ME 1.2 Air Surveillance Radars.
- Indigenous Surface Surveillance Radar, HUMSA-NG Mk II Bow Sonar, and Advanced SATCOM & Data Links.
- ASOR EW Suite, Electro-Optical Sandal V System, and MTK-201 Tracker for electronic and optical warfare.
The ship’s Trebiovione-M Combat Management System ensures a seamless fusion of sensors and weapons for superior situational awareness and target engagement.
Aviation Ready:
INS Tamal can embark and operate multiple aircraft, including the KA-28 Anti-Submarine Helicopter, KM-31 AEW platform, and Chetak utility helicopter, adding aerial reach to its maritime punch.
Design, Stealth and Propulsion
Built with stealth shaping and signature reduction techniques, INS Tamal is designed to remain elusive in contested waters. It features:
- Reduced radar cross-section, minimized infrared, acoustic and magnetic signatures, and quiet underwater profile.
- Propelled by four gas turbines, supported by 3,200 kW diesel alternators, the ship achieves speeds in excess of 30 knots.
- Integrated control systems include:
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- Burya – Gas Turbine control system for propulsion monitoring and management.
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- Onega – Auxiliary systems management, including firefighting, water systems, and HVAC.
Indigenisation and Industry Contribution
With 26% indigenous content—double that of earlier Teg-class frigates—INS Tamal underscores India’s push for Atmanirbharta (self-reliance). Over 33 Indian firms contributed to its construction, including Bharat Electronics Ltd, BrahMos Aerospace, and Nova Integrated Systems (Tata Group).
Looking Ahead
As INS Tamal prepares for commissioning, it reflects the maturity of India’s defence partnerships and a strategic transition toward domestic shipbuilding. With its induction, India takes another major stride in reinforcing its blue-water navy capabilities, ready to protect national interests across the vast Indo-Pacific.
Ravi Shankar
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
