The Indian Navy will commission its latest stealth multi-role frigate, INS Tamal, on July 1 at Kaliningrad in Russia. Notably, this will be the last warship of the Indian Navy to be built outside India. It is the eighth in the series of Krivak-class frigates inducted from Russia over the past two decades.
The ceremony will be presided over by Western Naval Commander Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh, in the presence of several high-ranking Indian and Russian government and defence officials.
INS Tamal has been built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, and is the final warship to be inducted from a foreign source, in line with the Government of India’s emphasis on the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives.
INS Tamala was laid down on 15 November 2013 as Admiral Istomin
Class & Origin
- An advanced Tushil‑class (Krivak III) guided‑missile stealth frigate, built at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. It’s the second ship in this batch and the eighth Talwar‑class frigate overall
Final Foreign‑Built Ship
- Tamal marks India’s last imported warship, aligning with the country’s shift toward self-reliant naval production
Commissioning Details
- Date & Venue
- Scheduled for July 1, 2025, at Kaliningrad. Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh, Western Naval Command C‑in‑C, will preside
Ceremony Significance
- Overseeing officials from both India and Russia will attend. It underscores Indo‑Russian naval collaboration as India transitions to domestic builds
Technical & Operational Specs
- Dimensions & Performance
- Length: ≈ 125 m; Displacement: ~3,900–4,000 t
- Powered by gas‑turbine propulsion; top speed 30+ knots; long-range blue‑water deployability.
Crew
- Complement of 250 officers and sailors, trained in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad winter conditions
Armament & Sensors
- Missiles
- Anti‑ship/land: 8 × VLS-launched BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles
- Surface‑to‑air: 24 × Shtil‑1 SAMs (2×12 VLS) + 8 × Igla‑1E short-range air defence
Guns & CIWS
- One 100 mm A‑190E naval gun; 2 × AK‑630/30 mm CIWS
Anti‑Submarine Warfare (ASW)
- 2 × twin 533 mm torpedo tubes; RBU‑6000 anti‑submarine rocket launcher
Sensors & Electronic Suite
- HUMSA‑NG Mk II sonar, advanced surface surveillance radars, EW suite, TK‑25E‑5 EWS, PK‑10 & KT‑216 decoy systems
Strategic Importance
- Fleet Role
- Will join the ‘Sword Arm’ Western Fleet, enhancing maritime strength in the Indian Ocean
Make‑in‑India Shift
- With 26 per cent indigenous components (including BrahMos), Tamal embodies India’s move away from foreign-built ships
- Reflects India’s evolution from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy”
· Fleet Standardisation
- Complements two follow-on Triput-class frigates under construction at Goa Shipyard, aiming for 10 similar ships across classes eventually
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