Rajnath Singh to Inaugurate Navy's New Frigate 'INS Tushil' in Russia on Sunday

Mumbai, Dec 6 (NationPress) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to inaugurate the Navy's latest multi-role, stealth-guided missile frigate, 'INS Tushil', at Kaliningrad in Russia on December 9, according to officials on Friday.

Singh will be joined by senior defence and civilian officials from both India and Russia for the commissioning of this warship, which is an upgraded Krivak III Class frigate under the Project 1135.6 of the Navy.

Currently, six warships of this class are operational, which include three Talwar Class ships constructed at the Baltiysky shipyard in St. Petersburg, along with three Teg Class vessels built at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad.

'INS Tushil' will be the seventh ship in this series and the first of two upgraded follow-on vessels, as per the contract signed between the government of India and JSC Rosoboronexport, Moscow, in October 2016.

The construction of the vessel was closely supervised by India's Warship Overseeing Team, who were stationed in Kaliningrad through the Indian Embassy in Moscow.

This 125-meter long ship, which weighs 3900 tonnes, boasts a formidable arsenal, showcasing an impressive fusion of advanced Russian and Indian technologies, as well as best practices in shipbuilding, as noted by officials.

From January 2024, after the completion of construction and preparations, the ship underwent a comprehensive series of trials, including factory sea trials, state committee trials, and finally, delivery acceptance trials conducted by a specialized Indian team, which reflected the immense effort of hundreds of shipyard workers from both Russia and India.

These trials included verifying all the Russian equipment installed on 'INS Tushil', encompassing weapon firings, while the ship's design enhances its stealth and stability.

During testing, the ship achieved remarkable speeds exceeding 30 knots (55 km/h), and it will arrive in India in a near-combat-ready state, prepared to respond instantly when called upon.

According to an official, the name 'Tushil' translates to 'protector shield,' and its emblem embodies the 'Abhedya Kavacham' (Impenetrable Shield).

With its motto, 'Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel' (Fearless, Indomitable, Resolute), this ship symbolizes the Indian Navy's unwavering dedication to securing the nation's maritime boundaries.

Through collaboration with Indian naval experts and the Severnoye Design Bureau, the indigenous component of the ship has significantly increased to an impressive 26%, with the number of Indian-made systems more than doubling to 33.

Key Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers involved in the project include BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, Johnson Controls India, and several others.

Upon commissioning, INS Tushil will become part of the 'Sword Arm' of the Indian Navy, the Western Fleet, operating under the Western Naval Command, and will rank among the most technologically advanced frigates globally.