Yesterday, the Indian Navy reported having received the first of its new stealth frigates of the Talwar Batch III class, built in Russian shipyards. This is the new vessel INS Tushil, the first of four ships that will make up this class, acquired by New Delhi through separate contracts outlined under an intergovernmental cooperation agreement signed in 2016 with Moscow.
To celebrate its reception, a ceremony was held at the Yantar Shipyard, located in Russia’s Kaliningrad region, with the presence of senior Indian naval and ministerial authorities. The shipyard welcomed the Chief of the Indian Navy, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, and India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who highlighted the significant defense relationship between his country and Russia, as well as India’s commitment to contributing to the security of the Indian Ocean. Representing Russia were Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev, among other notable figures.
In this context, Minister Singh stated: “Our Navy has thwarted plans of piracy, arms and drug trafficking, and non-state actors at various conflict points. From the Gulf of Oman to the Gulf of Aden, from Suez to Malacca, and from Australia to Madagascar, the Indian Navy is playing the essential role of a security provider in the IOR. India, along with its friendly countries, believes in ensuring that maritime trade in the region remains safe and protected, thus promoting unhindered trade across the seas.”
It is worth noting that the Yantar Shipyard is responsible for building two of the four Talwar Batch III frigates ordered by India, while Goa Shipyard Limited will complete the remaining two units. INS Tushil was launched in 2021 by the Yantar Shipyard, while the first frigate (the future INS Triput) was also floated this same year at Goa’s shipyard facilities.
Delving into specifics, it should be mentioned that the Talwar Batch III class is a modernized development based on the Krivak III class (or Project 1135.6) design of the Russian Navy. Currently, according to official communications from the Indian Ministry of Defense, the country already operates six Talwar-class ships from previous variants, designed for air defense, surface warfare, anti-submarine operations, and electronic warfare missions. In terms of armament, these ships are equipped to launch BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Shtil surface-to-air missiles, as well as torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets.
Additionally, each frigate has sufficient space to house anti-submarine and early warning helicopters, specifically the Kamov 28 and Kamov 31 operated by the force. In terms of propulsion systems, each ship features an advanced gas turbine propulsion plant enabling speeds of up to 30 knots, along with various automated systems to facilitate maintenance. For now, it is expected that the first captain of the INS Tushil will be Peter Varghese, a specialist in artillery and missiles.
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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