India is set to commission its last foreign-built warship, a 3,900-tonne stealth frigate named INS Tamal, on July 1 in Kaliningrad, Russia. The multi-role frigate, equipped with cutting-edge sensors and advanced weaponry such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, represents the final chapter of India’s era of importing major warships. From now on, all Indian naval vessels will be constructed indigenously.
The commissioning ceremony will be presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. INS Tamal is the second of two upgraded Krivak-III class frigates imported from Russia under a 2018 agreement, with the first—INS Tushil—already inducted earlier this year.
A Strategic Milestone in Naval Modernisation
INS Tamal marks a significant milestone in the Navy’s transformation from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy”, as emphasized by a senior naval officer. Currently, India has 59 warships under construction in Indian shipyards, with an overall project value of ₹1.2 lakh crore. Additionally, there is ‘acceptance of necessity’ clearance for 31 more indigenous ships, including:
- 9 diesel-electric submarines
- 7 next-gen frigates
- 8 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvettes
The Navy, which currently boasts 140 warships and submarines and over 250 aircraft and helicopters, plans to expand its fleet to 180 warships and 350 aircraft/helicopters by 2030 to counter growing maritime threats, especially the increasing cooperation between China and Pakistan in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
INS Tamal: Technologically Superior and Battle-Ready
The 125-metre-long INS Tamal has impressive specifications:
- Top speed: Over 30 knots
- Endurance: Extended blue-water operational range
- Crew capacity: 250 personnel
The ship features major upgrades over earlier frigates, combining lethality with survivability. Key armaments and systems include:
- BrahMos cruise missiles
- Shtil vertical launch surface-to-air missiles (VLS SAMs)
- A190-01 100mm main gun
- 30mm close-in weapon systems (CIWS)
- Heavyweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets
- Electro-optical/infrared Sandal V system
- Surveillance and fire control radars
Additionally, the ship supports Kamov-31 early-warning and Kamov-28 multi-role helicopters, extending its strike and reconnaissance range. It is equipped with robust network-centric warfare capabilities, including the latest SATCOM, high-speed data links, and electronic warfare suites.
End of Imports, Focus on Indigenous Power
While INS Tamal and INS Tushil were imported from Russia for ₹8,000 crore, the remaining two frigates under the same agreement — Triput and Tavasya — are being built at Goa Shipyard Ltd with Russian technology, at an added cost of ₹13,000 crore.
These ships will augment the six previous Russian-origin Talwar and Teg-class frigates inducted between 2003 and 2012. Designed for multi-dimensional naval warfare — air, surface, underwater, and electromagnetic — these frigates significantly bolster India’s blue-water naval strength.
The commissioning of INS Tamal signals the Indian Navy’s resolve to move away from dependence on foreign-built platforms and embrace self-reliance in maritime defence, in line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
