Moscow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to commission the Indian Navy's latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, INS Tushil, on Monday at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. Accompanied by Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and senior defence and civilian officials from both India and Russia, Singh will oversee the induction of this advanced warship, part of the upgraded Krivak III Class under Project 1135.6.
The Defence Ministry revealed that Rajnath Singh’s official visit to Russia, spanning December 8-10, includes co-chairing the 21st meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) alongside Russian Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov in Moscow on December 10. The talks aim to strengthen bilateral defence ties, encompassing military collaboration and industrial partnerships, while addressing pressing regional and global issues of mutual interest.
During his visit, Singh will also pay homage to fallen Soviet soldiers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow and engage with the Indian community.
INS Tushil represents the seventh warship in the Krivak class, following six predecessors—three Talwar-class vessels built in St. Petersburg and three Teg-class ships constructed in Kaliningrad. The frigate, the first of two follow-on vessels contracted by India in 2016 with JSC Rosoboronexport, has been constructed with oversight by India’s Warship Overseeing Team stationed in Kaliningrad.
Weighing 3,900 tonnes and measuring 125 meters, INS Tushil showcases a fusion of Indian and Russian technologies and best practices. Its design features an enhanced indigenous content of 26%, with 33 systems sourced from Indian manufacturers, including BrahMos Aerospace, Bharat Electronics, and Tata Nova Integrated Systems, among others.
The frigate, named Tushil—symbolizing a “protector shield”—carries a crest representing the Abhedya Kavacham (Impenetrable Shield) and a motto, Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel (Fearless, Indomitable, Resolute). It embodies the Navy’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding India’s maritime interests.
After rigorous trials, including factory sea trials and delivery acceptance tests, the vessel demonstrated speeds exceeding 30 knots (55 km/h). INS Tushil will soon sail to India in a near-combat-ready state and join the Western Fleet under the Navy’s Western Naval Command, reinforcing its role as a formidable guardian of India’s maritime boundaries.