London:

INS Tushil, the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, has docked in London on its first port of call during its maiden operational deployment.

Commodore Robert Bellfield, Royal Navy Commander London and Eastern England received the Indian Navy warship on behalf of the UK government on Sunday. He was received by Captain Peter Varghese, the Commanding Officer of the ship.

“An honour to welcome INS Tushil to London, for her first foreign visit. This occasion is a demonstration of the close relationship between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, our two nations, and our shared interests,” said Bellfield.

India’s Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Sujit Ghosh, also paid a visit to the warship docked on the river Thames before it departs on Monday evening.

#INSTushil India’s latest guided missile stealth frigate arrived in #London, UK on #21Dec 24 on her maiden passage to #India marking a significant milestone in the growing naval cooperation between the #IndianNavy & @RoyalNavy.
The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties and… https://t.co/4ROjrRT8pn pic.twitter.com/g0AdSIvlH6

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 23, 2024

The ship, built in Russia and commissioned on December 9 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, set sail from Kaliningrad on December 17.

According to a Ministry of Defence statement, the ship will traverse the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and finally, the Indian Ocean, making port calls at several friendly foreign countries along the way.

“The maiden deployment of INS Tushil would involve key charter of Indian Navy, namely, Diplomatic, military, and constabulary activities. The ship will carry out joint patrolling and maritime partnership exercises with a number of navies en route, including piracy hotspots in the region,” the ministry said.

During port calls, the ship will undertake capability-building activities with host Navies and hold interactions with senior military and government leadership. The port calls will also serve to engage with the Indian diaspora spread across the region.

The ministry added INS Tushil’s port calls and exercises are aimed at consolidating India’s maritime cooperation with littoral countries of the region and reinforcing Indian Navy’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding the seafaring community.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

London:

INS Tushil, the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, has docked in London on its first port of call during its maiden operational deployment.

Commodore Robert Bellfield, Royal Navy Commander London and Eastern England received the Indian Navy warship on behalf of the UK government on Sunday. He was received by Captain Peter Varghese, the Commanding Officer of the ship.

“An honour to welcome INS Tushil to London, for her first foreign visit. This occasion is a demonstration of the close relationship between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, our two nations, and our shared interests,” said Bellfield.

India’s Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Sujit Ghosh, also paid a visit to the warship docked on the river Thames before it departs on Monday evening.

#INSTushil India’s latest guided missile stealth frigate arrived in #London, UK on #21Dec 24 on her maiden passage to #India marking a significant milestone in the growing naval cooperation between the #IndianNavy & @RoyalNavy.
The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties and… https://t.co/4ROjrRT8pn pic.twitter.com/g0AdSIvlH6

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 23, 2024

The ship, built in Russia and commissioned on December 9 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, set sail from Kaliningrad on December 17.

According to a Ministry of Defence statement, the ship will traverse the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and finally, the Indian Ocean, making port calls at several friendly foreign countries along the way.

“The maiden deployment of INS Tushil would involve key charter of Indian Navy, namely, Diplomatic, military, and constabulary activities. The ship will carry out joint patrolling and maritime partnership exercises with a number of navies en route, including piracy hotspots in the region,” the ministry said.

During port calls, the ship will undertake capability-building activities with host Navies and hold interactions with senior military and government leadership. The port calls will also serve to engage with the Indian diaspora spread across the region.

The ministry added INS Tushil’s port calls and exercises are aimed at consolidating India’s maritime cooperation with littoral countries of the region and reinforcing Indian Navy’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding the seafaring community.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Indian Navy’s Russia-manufactured guided missile frigate INS Tushil has set sail from the coastal Russian city of Kaliningrad to India.

The warship was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Kaliningrad in presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on December 9.

The 3900 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.

The warship is expected to significantly bolster the Indian Navy’s operational capability in the Indian Ocean, a region that has witnessed increasing forays by China’s PLA Navy in the last few years.

“INS Tushil, the latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, set sail from Kaliningrad, Russia for India on December 17, marking the beginning of her maiden operational deployment,” the Indian Navy said on Thursday.

The ship will traverse the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and finally the Indian Ocean, making port calls at several friendly foreign countries along the way.

“The ship will carry out joint patrolling and maritime partnership exercises with a number of navies en route, including piracy hotspots in the region,” the Navy said in a statement.

It said the ship will undertake capability-building activities with host navies during her port calls.

“The port calls and exercises are aimed at consolidating India’s maritime cooperation with littoral countries of the region and reinforcing Indian Navy’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding the seafaring community,” it added.

INS Tushil has been constructed in Russia as part of an over USD 2.5-billion deal that New Delhi had inked with Moscow in 2016 for four stealth frigates for the Indian Navy.

Under the deal, two ships were to be built in Russia, while the other two were to be manufactured in India.

Officials said INS Tushil’s new design provides it with enhanced stealth features and better stability characteristics.

With the collaboration of Indian naval specialists and Severnoye Design Bureau, the indigenous content of the ship has been enhanced to an impressive 26 per cent, they said.

INS Tushil is joining the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy and will rank amongst the most technologically advanced frigates in the world, the officials said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Moscow:

Despite the years-long war between Russia and Ukraine, Moscow and Kiev worked separately for a common cause – to manufacture an Indian Navy warship, which was handed over to New Delhi on Monday when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Moscow for a top-level visit.

The frigate – INS Tushil – is one of two naval ships for which India placed an order with Russia in 2016. It is a Krivak III-class warship, which is an advanced stealth missile frigate. India currently operates six such warships – all manufactured in Russia.

Besides the two that is being made in Russia, two more similar ships have been ordered to be manufactured in India and will likely be manufactured at the Goa Shipyard.

What is interesting is that the primary engines – the gas turbines of these frigates – is manufactured in Ukraine. A Russian warship with a Ukrainian engine, made for India – which shares close ties with both countries.

A majority of the ships in the Indian navy fleet use gas turbines made by the Ukrainian company Zorya-Mashproekt – which is a recognised globally as a leader in marine gas turbine production.

What is unique however, is that this order has been delivered while the war is on between Russia and Ukraine, and it is significant to note that both countries have delivered the order in spite of the conflict. However, there was a bit of a challenge involved – India had to physically procure these engines from Ukraine and have them delivered to Russia before they could be installed on this warship, so it has been somewhat delayed.

ALL ABOUT THE INS TUSHIL

INS Tushil is the Indian Navy’s latest multi-role, stealth-guided missile frigate. The name ‘Tushil’ means a ‘protector shield’ and its crest represents the ‘Abhedya Kavacham’ (Impenetrable Shield). It has a motto – ‘Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel’ (Fearless, Indomitable, and Resolute). The ship stands as a symbol of the Indian Navy’s undying commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime frontiers.

The INS Tushil is an advanced Russian Krivak III-class warship under ‘Project 11356’.

Project 11356 is the code name for the Talwar-class frigates, which are a class of stealth, guided-missile frigates designed and built by Russia for the Indian Navy. The design for the Talwar Class frigates have been developed as an advanced version of the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates that Russia uses. So far, six such ships have been built and delivered by Russia to India between 1999 and 2013.

The six Krivak class warships that are already in service are 3 Talwar Class ships built at Baltiysky shipyard in St. Petersburg, and three Teg Class ships constructed at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad.

‘INS Tushil’ will be the seventh in the series, and the first of the two upgraded, advanced warships for which the Indian government and the Indian Navy had signed a contract with Russia’s JSC Rosoboronexport, in October 2016.

The construction of the 125-metre-long warship, weighing 3,900 tonnes, was under constant monitoring by experts of India’s Warship Overseeing Team stationed permanently in Russia’s Kaliningrad throughout its construction. The warship is fitted with advanced Indian missiles, details of which are not revealed by the Indian Navy.

The warship has undergone a series of sea trials, factory sea trials, and state committee trials starting January 2024, during which it clocked an impressive speed of more than 30 knots (55 kmph). It is now being delivered to India in a combat-ready condition.

Russia is delivering the warship to India at Kaliningrad on Monday, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi will be commissioning it.

Upon commissioning, INS Tushil will join the ‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy, the Western Fleet, under the Western Naval Command.

THE CHINA CHALLENGE

While the first of the two warships have been delivered on Monday, the delivery date for the second ship might take a while. The warship is an important addition to the Indian Navy which is faced with the challenge of the fast-growing Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean.

The Chinese Navy is the fastest-growing navy in the world, and according to some reports the Chinese Navy might have already outnumbered the US Navy to become the largest naval fleet globally. Nowhere is this felt more significantly that the Indian Ocean.

While India has the geographical advantage over China in the Indian Ocean and its strategic location close to key choke points leading to it, China has the advantage in terms of number of vessels in the naval fleet.
 

New Delhi:

Indian Navy’s Russian-manufactured guided missile frigate INS Tushil was commissioned into the force at Russia’s coastal city of Kaliningrad on Monday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and several other senior Indian officials were present at the commissioning ceremony.

INS Tushil is expected to significantly bolster the Indian Navy’s operational capability in the Indian Ocean, a region that has witnessed increasing forays by China’s PLA Navy in the last few years.

The warship has been constructed in Russia as part of an over USD 2.5-billion deal that New Delhi had inked with Moscow in 2016 for four stealth frigates for the Indian Navy.

Under the deal, two ships were to be built in Russia, while the other two were to be manufactured in India.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Mr Singh described the commissioning of the warship as a proud testament to India’s growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in long-standing ties with Russia.

“The ship is a big proof of the collaborative prowess of Russian and Indian industries. It exemplifies India’s journey towards technological excellence through jointmanship,” he said.

Singh said India and Russia will enter a “new era” of cooperation by taking advantage of each other’s expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, space exploration and counter-terrorism.

The ship’s construction was closely monitored by an Indian team of specialists from the ‘Warship Overseeing Team’ stationed at Kaliningrad.

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.

The ship’s new design provides it with enhanced stealth features and better stability characteristics, officials said.

With the collaboration of Indian naval specialists and Severnoye Design Bureau, the indigenous content of the ship has been enhanced to an impressive 26 per cent, the officials said.

The major Indian defence firms involved in the project were BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, Johnson Controls India and others.

INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of Project 1135.6.

The warship is the result of the continuous toil of hundreds of shipyard workers along with multiple Russian and Indian Original Equipment Makers (OEMs), said one of the officials cited above.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Indian Navy’s Russian-manufactured guided missile frigate INS Tushil was commissioned into the force at Russia’s coastal city of Kaliningrad on Monday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and several other senior Indian officials were present at the commissioning ceremony.

INS Tushil is expected to significantly bolster the Indian Navy’s operational capability in the Indian Ocean, a region that has witnessed increasing forays by China’s PLA Navy in the last few years.

The warship has been constructed in Russia as part of an over USD 2.5-billion deal that New Delhi had inked with Moscow in 2016 for four stealth frigates for the Indian Navy.

Under the deal, two ships were to be built in Russia, while the other two were to be manufactured in India.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Mr Singh described the commissioning of the warship as a proud testament to India’s growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in long-standing ties with Russia.

“The ship is a big proof of the collaborative prowess of Russian and Indian industries. It exemplifies India’s journey towards technological excellence through jointmanship,” he said.

Singh said India and Russia will enter a “new era” of cooperation by taking advantage of each other’s expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, space exploration and counter-terrorism.

The ship’s construction was closely monitored by an Indian team of specialists from the ‘Warship Overseeing Team’ stationed at Kaliningrad.

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.

The ship’s new design provides it with enhanced stealth features and better stability characteristics, officials said.

With the collaboration of Indian naval specialists and Severnoye Design Bureau, the indigenous content of the ship has been enhanced to an impressive 26 per cent, the officials said.

The major Indian defence firms involved in the project were BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, Johnson Controls India and others.

INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of Project 1135.6.

The warship is the result of the continuous toil of hundreds of shipyard workers along with multiple Russian and Indian Original Equipment Makers (OEMs), said one of the officials cited above.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Moscow:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will commission the Navy’s latest, multi-role, stealth-guided missile frigate, ‘INS Tushil’ at Russia’s Kaliningrad on Monday.

Rajnath Singh, along with Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, and other top Defence and civilian officials from India and Russia, will commission the warship, an upgraded Krivak III Class frigate under Project 1135.6., at the Yantra Shipyard in Kaliningrad.

As per a Defence Ministry statement, the Defence Minister is paying an official visit to Russia from December 8-10, during which he and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov will co-chair the 21st meeting of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) in Moscow on December 10.

The two leaders will review the entire range of multi-faceted relations between the two countries in the field of Defence, including military-to-military and industrial cooperation. They will also exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest.

In addition, the Indian Minister will pay tributes at ‘The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Moscow to honour the Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War. He will also interact with the members of the Indian community.

Six warships in the Krivak class are already in service, comprising 3 Talwar Class ships built at Baltiysky shipyard in St. Petersburg, and three of Teg Class constructed at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad.

‘INS Tushil’ will be the seventh in the series and the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on ships for which the Indian government and the Navy had signed a contract with JSC Rosoboronexport, in October 2016.

The vessel’s construction was closely monitored by experts of India’s Warship Overseeing Team stationed in Kaliningrad.

The 125-metre long ship weighing 3,900 tonnes, packs a lethal punch, making it an impressive blend of Russian and Indian cutting-edge technologies besides the best practices in warship construction, officials said.

From January 2024, post-construction and readiness, the ship underwent a series of extensive trials including factory sea trials, state committee trials, and finally, delivery acceptance trials by an Indian specialised team.

During trials, the ship clocked an impressive speed of more than 30 knots (55 kmph), and now it will reach India in a near-combat-ready condition, ready to deliver its effects instantly whenever needed.

As per a Navy official, the name ‘Tushil’ means a ‘protector shield’ and its crest represents the ‘Abhedya Kavacham’ (Impenetrable Shield).

Along with its motto, ‘Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel’ (Fearless, Indomitable, Resolute), the ship stands as a symbol of the Indian Navy’s undying commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime frontiers.

With the collaboration of Indian naval specialists and Severnoye Design Bureau, the indigenous content of the ship has been enhanced to an impressive 26 per cent and the number of ‘Made-in-India’ systems has more than doubled to 33.

The major Indian original equipment manufacturers involved were BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, Johnson Controls India and many others.

Upon commissioning, INS Tushil will join the ‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy, the Western Fleet, under the Western Naval Command.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The Navy is gearing up to commission its latest addition, INS Tushil, on December 9, at a ceremony in Kaliningrad, Russia. This multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate represents an important milestone in improving the Navy’s capabilities. The event will be graced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the chief guest, alongside senior officials from both Russian and Indian governments and defence sectors.

INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate under Project 1135.6, making it the seventh ship in the series. The contract for INS Tushil was signed in October 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, the Indian Navy, and the Government of India.

The design of INS Tushil, a 125-metre and 3,900-tonne ship, incorporates advanced stealth features. The collaboration between Indian naval specialists and Russia’s Severnoye Design Bureau has increased the indigenous content of the ship, which now stands at 26 per cent. The number of Indian-made systems has also more than doubled to 33.

INS Tushil is equipped with cutting-edge technology, a blend of Russian and Indian engineering expertise, ensuring it is one of the most technologically advanced frigates in the world. Following its construction, the ship underwent a series of trials starting in January 2024, conducted by a team of Indian specialists. The trials verified the performance of all Russian equipment installed on board, including weapon systems. The ship also achieved a speed exceeding 30 knots. With these trials now successfully completed, INS Tushil is set to arrive in India in a nearly combat-ready state.

The warship’s onboard equipment includes state-of-the-art surveillance and combat systems that can engage targets both in the air and on the sea. This ensures it is not only a capable surface combatant but also well-suited for various roles, including anti-submarine warfare and anti-air operations.

INS Tushil’s name translates to ‘the protector shield’. Its crest is adorned with the emblem ‘Abhedya Kavacham’ (impenetrable shield), reinforcing its mission to protect and defend. The ship’s motto is ‘Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel’ (fearless, indomitable, resolute).

Major Indian OEMs involved in the ship’s construction and outfitting include BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine and Johnson Controls India among others.

Once commissioned, INS Tushil will become part of the Indian Navy’s ‘Sword Arm,’ the Western Fleet, under the Western Naval Command. It is set to be among the most advanced frigates globally, showcasing cutting-edge technology.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Russia from December 8 to 10 will coincide with the commissioning ceremony of INS Tushil. Mr Singh will co-chair the 21st meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov. 

The discussions will include a review of military cooperation and a dialogue on global and regional issues. Rajnath Singh is also scheduled to pay tributes at the ‘Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Moscow, in honour of Soviet soldiers who died in World War II, and will engage with the Indian community in Russia.

Two Indian Navy warships being built in Russia are likely to be commissioned by the end of this year, after getting delayed due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

The first warship would be known as INS Tushil, while the other one would be INS Tamal after commissioning.

The stealth frigates are being built as part of the Tushil class warships, which are follow-ons of the six warships of the Talwar class and its follow on frigates.

A team of the Indian Navy, including personnel from the Chief of Material Directorate, had recently visited the shipyard in Russia, where the frigates are being built and inspected the project, the defence officials told ANI.

The work is now progressing at a good pace and the first warship has also been launched for sea trials, which are being carried out by the Russian Navy.

The two warships are expected to be commissioned by August and December this year, respectively, they said.

The ongoing conflict in that region created many issues for the project, including the fitment of the Ukrainian engine on the frigate being built in Russia.

Moreover, the workforce from Indian naval shipyards was sent there to fit the engines on the warship, the officials said.

The first ship is now undergoing trials in Russian waters and is expected to be ready soon for delivery to the Indian Navy for acceptance trials.

Additionally, the Indian team is expected to be there soon.

The other two warships of the series being built with Russian support at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in India, are also moving ahead.

The GSL is expected to launch the first warship for trials in the near future and the delivery is planned to be completed by the middle of 2026.

Furthermore, the GSL has expanded its facilities and received supplies for the warships.

The project to build the warships in the Russian and Indian shipyards was cleared during the tenure of the late Manohar Parrikar as Defence Minister.

The work on the project was also delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when almost all the military programmes were facing supply chain issues.

The two warships being built in Russia are expected to be the last Indian surface vessels to be built in foreign shipyards, as the Indian Navy’s present and future leadership is promoting self reliance in defence and giving jobs to Indian shipyards and workers.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)