Defence Minister Singh to Launch India's New Frigate 'INS Tushil' in Russia Today
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Moscow, Dec 9 (NationPress) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to inaugurate the Navy's new, multi-functional, stealth-guided missile frigate, INS Tushil, at the Yantra Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, on Monday.
Alongside Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and various senior defence and civilian officials from both India and Russia, he will officially commission this warship, which is an upgraded Krivak III Class frigate under Project 1135.6.
According to a statement from the Defence Ministry, Minister Singh is on an official trip to Russia from December 8-10. He will co-chair the 21st meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) with his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov in Moscow on December 10.
The two leaders intend to assess the comprehensive spectrum of bilateral relations, particularly in the defence sector, including military and industrial collaboration. They will also discuss current regional and global matters of shared concern.
Furthermore, the Indian Minister will pay respects at 'The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' in Moscow, commemorating the Soviet soldiers who lost their lives during the Second World War. He is also expected to engage with members of the Indian community.
Currently, six warships of the Krivak class are operational, which include three Talwar Class ships built at the Baltiysky shipyard in St. Petersburg and three Teg Class vessels constructed at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad.
'INS Tushil' will be the seventh in this series and the first of two enhanced follow-on ships for which the Indian government and Navy signed a contract with JSC Rosoboronexport in October 2016.
The construction of this vessel was closely overseen by experts from India's Warship Overseeing Team stationed in Kaliningrad.
The ship measures 125 meters in length and weighs 3,900 tonnes, boasting advanced capabilities that integrate both Russian and Indian cutting-edge technologies, along with best practices in warship design, as stated by officials.
Following its construction, INS Tushil will undergo a series of rigorous trials from January 2024, including factory sea trials, state committee trials, and ultimately, delivery acceptance trials conducted by a specialized Indian team.
During these trials, the ship achieved an impressive speed exceeding 30 knots (55 km/h), ensuring it will arrive in India in a near-combat-ready condition, primed to respond effectively whenever called upon.
According to a Navy official, the name 'Tushil' translates to a 'protector shield', and its crest symbolizes 'Abhedya Kavacham' (Impenetrable Shield).
With its motto 'Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel' (Fearless, Indomitable, Resolute), INS Tushil epitomizes the Indian Navy’s unwavering dedication to protecting the nation's maritime boundaries.
Thanks to the collaboration between Indian naval experts and the Severnoye Design Bureau, the indigenous content of the ship has been significantly enhanced to 26%, with the number of 'Made-in-India' systems more than doubling to 33.
Key Indian original equipment manufacturers involved in this project include BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, Johnson Controls India, among others.
Upon its commissioning, INS Tushil will become part of the 'Sword Arm' of the Indian Navy, serving within the Western Fleet under the Western Naval Command.
