Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh participated in the Commissioning Ceremony of INS Tushil held in Kaliningrad, Russia, on Monday.
Sharing the event on X, the Defence Minister’s Office wrote, “Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh attending the Commissioning Ceremony of #INSTushil at Kaliningrad, Russia.”
Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh attending the Commissioning Ceremony of #INSTushil at Kaliningrad, Russia. pic.twitter.com/RKMywUSrfK
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) December 9, 2024
INS Tushil, an upgraded Krivak III class frigate under Project 1135.6, joins the Indian Navy as the seventh ship in its series, as outlined in a previous press release by the Ministry of Defence. Six similar frigates are already in service—three Talwar class ships built at the Baltisky shipyard, St. Petersburg, and three Teg class ships constructed at the Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad.
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INS Tushil is the first of two upgraded follow-on ships contracted in October 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, the Indian Navy, and the Government of India. The construction of this warship was closely monitored by an Indian specialist team from the Warship Overseeing Team based in Kaliningrad under the Indian Embassy in Moscow.
“The warship is the result of the continuous toil of hundreds of shipyard workers along with multiple Russian and Indian OEMs,” the Ministry of Defence said in an earlier release.
Starting in January, INS Tushil underwent a rigorous series of trials, including Factory Sea Trials, State Committee Trials, and Delivery Acceptance Trials conducted by Indian specialists. These tests validated the ship’s Russian-fitted equipment and weapons systems. During the trials, the frigate achieved an impressive speed exceeding 30 knots. With all trials successfully completed, the ship is ready to reach India in near combat-ready condition.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the name Tushil means “the protector shield,” with the ship’s crest symbolizing the Abhedya Kavacham (impenetrable shield). Its motto, Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel (Fearless, Indomitable, Resolute), reflects the Indian Navy’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime frontiers.
This 125-meter, 3,900-ton frigate is a powerful blend of Russian and Indian technologies. It features enhanced stealth and improved stability. Collaboration with Indian naval specialists and Severnoye Design Bureau has increased the indigenous content to 26% and doubled the number of Indian-made systems to 33. Key Indian OEMs include BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems (Tata), Elcome Marine, Johnson Controls India, and others.
“Upon commissioning, INS Tushil will join the ‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy, the Western Fleet, under the Western Naval Command and will rank amongst the most technologically advanced frigates in the world. It will not only be a symbol of the Indian Navy’s growing capabilities but also the resilient collaborative strength of the India-Russia partnership,” the Ministry of Defence added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a visit to Russia, attended the commissioning ceremony. He arrived in Moscow on Sunday night and received a warm welcome from Indian Ambassador Venkatesh Kumar and Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.
During his visit, Singh will pay homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow to honor Soviet soldiers who lost their lives during World War II. He will also engage with the Indian community and hold critical discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Additionally, he will co-chair the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC M&MTC) with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.
This visit aims to strengthen India-Russia defence cooperation under the framework of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
