On Monday, the guided missile frigate INS Tushil, manufactured by Russia, as part of a $2.5-billion deal that New Delhi had signed with Moscow in 2016 for four stealth frigates for the Indian Navy, was commissioned.
Delighted to attend the Commissioning Ceremony of #INSTushil, the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad (Russia).
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 9, 2024
The ship is a proud testament to India’s growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in long-standing… pic.twitter.com/L6Pok31wQJ
Under the deal, two ships were to be built in Russia, while the other two were to be manufactured in India. Tamal, the sister ship of INS Tushil, too is being built in Russia. This is expected to be commissioned next year.
While Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the commissioning of the warship "a big proof of the collaborative prowess of Russian and Indian industries", INS Tushil marks another collaboration, between two warring nations—Russia and Ukraine.
ALSO READ: Multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate INS Tushil joins India Navy
While INS Tushil, an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of Project 1135.6, has indigenous content of 26 per cent, the primary engines— the gas turbines—of these warships are made by a Ukrainian company Zorya-Mashproekt, which is recognised global leader in marine gas turbine production.
These engines were delivered despite the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
According to media reports, the engines were delivered despite the conflict as India physically procured them from the company in Ukraine and then delivered them to Russia.
The 3,900-tonne ship with a length of 125 metres packs a lethal punch and is an impressive blend of Russian and Indian cutting-edge technologies and best practices in warship construction. INS Tushil, which has enhanced stealth features and better stability characteristics, is joining the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy and will rank amongst the most technologically advanced frigates in the world.
The major Indian defence firms involved in the project included BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, and Johnson Controls India among others.
