Russia-Built BrahMos-Armed INS Tamal To Be In India This Month Amid Tensions With Pakistan
As tensions with Pakistan rise by the day following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, India's acquisition of the Russia-built INS Tamal is being seen as a major development in the region's geopolitics and security. The INS Tamal is India's second advanced stealth frigate built by Russia.
Constructed at the famed Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, the 3,900-tonne INS Tamal is set to join the Indian Navy's fleet within the next month. Sources indicate the vessel is currently undergoing intensive State Committee Trials in Russia before entering the final phase of delivery acceptance tests, both at sea and in port. Once these evaluations are completed, expected within 45 to 50 days, the warship will officially be handed over to India.
Boost To Indo-Russian Naval Pact
INS Tamal follows the recent commissioning of INS Tushil, which was formally inducted into service by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his December 2024 visit to Russia. Both vessels are part of a long-standing defence agreement between India and Russia in October 2016. Under the deal, India agreed to procure four upgraded Krivak-III class frigates, known in India as 'Talwar-class' stealth frigates.
The first two ships — INS Tushil and INS Tamal — are being purchased directly from Russia at a cost of around ₹8,000 crore. The remaining two, named INS Triput and INS Tavasya, are currently under construction at Goa Shipyard Limited through a technology transfer initiative, with an estimated value of ₹13,000 crore.
Power, Precision, And Stealth: What Makes INS Tamal Stand Out
INS Tamal is engineered for full-spectrum naval warfare. With a top speed of 30 knots (around 55 kmph) and an operational range of 3,000 kilometres per deployment, the frigate is built for endurance and speed.
What sets this warship apart is its formidable weapons suite. It comes equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for precision strikes, and Shtil surface-to-air missile launcher for aerial defence. The vessel also carries anti-submarine torpedoes and rocket launchers, enabling it to counter underwater threats effectively. A multi-role helicopter can operate from its deck, extending the ship's surveillance and combat capabilities far beyond its hull.
To thrive in modern combat environments, INS Tamal incorporates stealth technology that significantly reduces its radar signature, allowing it to operate undetected in hostile zones. Its design makes it versatile enough to perform missions across all four domains of naval warfare — air, surface, subsurface, and electronic.
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