INS Tushil sets sail from Kaliningrad, Russia to India

The Indian Navy’s the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, INS Tushil, has departed from Kaliningrad, Russia for India, commencing its inaugural operational deployment.

The ship was constructed in Russia and officially commissioned on December 9 this year in the presence of Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister of India.

“#INSTushil set sail for India from Kaliningrad on #17Dec. The ship was recently commissioned on 09 Dec 24 in #Russia in the presence of Hon’ble #RakshaMantri. The multi-role stealth guided missile frigate is a potent addition to the #IndianNavy’s arsenal. The ship’s passage to #India will also be her maiden operational deployment. She will carry out joint patrolling and maritime exercises with navies of friendly countries enroute including at piracy hot spot areas in the region,” the spokesperson of the Indian Navy stated in a post on X.

In a press release by the Ministry of Defence, it was observed that INS Tushil will sail throught the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and finally, the Indian Ocean, making port visits at several friendly foreign countries along the way. During the maiden deployment of INS Tushil will undertake key roles of the Indian Navy, namely, Diplomatic, military, and constabulary activities.

According to the press release,The ship, which departed on December 17, will engage in joint patrols and maritime partnership exercises with several navies along its route, including piracy hotspots in the region.

During her port visits, the ship will undertake capability-building activities with host Navies and hold interactions with hign-ranking military and government officials. The port visits will an opportunity to connect with the Indian diaspora spread across the region.

The Ministry of Defence stated that the port visits and exercises are intended to strenghen India’s maritime partnerships with littoral countries of the region and reinforcing the Indian Navy’s dedication to protecting and safeguarding the global maritime community.

As per a previous statement from Ministry of Defence, INS Tushil is an advanced Krivak III class frigates of Project 1135.6, with six are already in service – three Talwar class ships, built at Baltisky shipyard, St Petersburg, and three follow-on Teg class ships, built at Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad.

According to the press release, INS Tushil, the seventh in the series, is the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on vessels. The contract for these ships was signed in Oct 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, Indian Navy and the Government of India.

The construction of the ship was closely supervised by a team of indian specialists from the Warship Overseeing Team based in Kaliningrad, under the guidance of the Indian Embassy in Moscow.

As per the Ministry of Defence in a previous press release,”The warship is the result of the continuous toil of hundreds of shipyard workers along with multiple Russian and Indian OEMs.”

As per the Ministry of Defence, the ship’s name, Tushil, means ‘the protector shield’ and its crest symblolizing the ‘Abhedya Kavacham’ (impenetrable shield). Along with its motto, ‘Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel’ (Fearless, Indomitable, Resolute), the ship represent the Indian Navy’s undying commitment to protect and safeguard the country’s maritime boundaries.

This 125 metre, 3900-ton vessel, packs a lethal punch and is an impressive blend of Russian and Indian technologies with leading practices in warship design. Its new design provides it with enhanced stealth characteristics and better stability features.

“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 Indian Navy’s growing capabilities, but also the resilient collaborative strength of the India-Russia partnership,” statement by the Ministry of Defence .