The Indian Navy officially welcomed its newest guided-missile frigate into service in a ceremony on Monday, December 9.
The commissioning of INS Tushil took place at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, where it was built. The frigate is the seventh to be built under Project 11356, otherwise known as the Talwar-class. Another frigate, the future INS Tamala, is scheduled to be handed over to the Indian Navy in the first quarter of 2025.
The frigate has a length of 124 metres, a beam of 15 metres, advanced stealth features, and four gas turbines that deliver a speed of 32 knots. Armament includes anti-ship missiles, BrahMos land attack missiles, Shtil surface-to-air missiles, a 100mm naval gun, close-in weapon systems, anti-submarine rockets, and torpedoes.
Design work on the Talwar-class frigates was undertaken by Russian engineering firm Severnoe Design Bureau. The ships are upgraded variants of the Project 1135 Krivak-class frigates that were introduced into Soviet Navy service in the 1970s.
The Talwar-class ships were designed for blue water operations. Missions include anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare. The frigates also have aviation facilities for use by anti-submarine and airborne early warning helicopters.