India commissions latest Project 1135.6 frigate in Russia

July 2, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Tamal (F 71), the eighth multi-role stealth frigate in the series of Project 1135.6 vessels at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia.

As informed, the ceremony took place on July 1, 2025, in the presence of the senior officials from the Indian and Russian governments, navies, and industries.

The frigate is the second of the additional follow-on Tushil class of ships. The first ship of the Tushil class (INS Tushil) was commissioned in December 2024.

Indian Navy commissions new Project 1135.6 frigate, INS Tushil

Vessels

All seven ships inducted so far are part of the Western Fleet – ‘The Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy under the Western Naval Command.

This ceremony marks the formal induction of INS Tamal into the Indian Navy. The ship is commanded by Capt Sridhar Tata, a gunnery and missile warfare specialist.

“The commissioning of versatile platforms like INS Tamal enhances the Indian Navy’s reach, responsiveness, and resilience. I am confident that the ship will prove its mettle as a force multiplier in our operational architecture, towards safeguarding national maritime interests and promoting maritime security,” the Chief Guest, V Adm Sanjay Jasjit Singh, said.

He also acknowledged the Russian Navy and Baltic Fleet for their role in bringing Tamal to its full combat capability and appreciated the commissioning crew for their dedication and professionalism. He remarked that, though being built in Russia, the ship has 26% indigenous components, including the BrahMos long-range cruise missile and Humsa-NG Sonar system.

The construction of the next two ships of the class in India further enhances the scope, potential, and wide horizon in harnessing and synergising mutual strengths and joint capabilities, he added.

INS Tamal was launched in February 2022. The vessel sailed for its maiden sea trials in November 2024 and completed a set of factory trials, state committee trials, and the delivery acceptance trials, both in harbor and at sea, by June 2025.

Furthermore, the ship has successfully carried out trial firing of all its Russian weapon systems, including the vertically launched surface-to-air missile Shtil-1, artillery weapons, and torpedoes.

According to the Indian Navy, INS Tamal punches well above its weight with dual-role BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, vertically launched surface-to-air missiles with extended ranges, the standard 30 MM close-in weapon system, the 100 MM main gu,n and ASW rockets and heavyweight torpedoes. The complement of advanced electronic warfare suite and advanced EO/IR systems adds ears and eyes to this potent platform.

The ship is also capable of embarking the upgraded anti-submarine and airborne early warning helicopters, the Kamov 28 and Kamov 31.

The unit has been equipped with complex automated systems for nuclear, biological, and chemical defense, including damage control and fire-fighting that can be operated centrally from sheltered posts. These complex systems aid in minimizing casualties, achieve rapid restoration of combat effectiveness, and enhance combat capability and survivability, according to the officials.

INS Tamal is manned by a crew of about 250 sailors and 26 officers. The frigate will soon embark on its maiden passage back to its homeport of Karwar in Karnataka.