As part of its ongoing surface fleet expansion, the Indian Navy is preparing to receive the last of its new Talwar-class stealth frigates built by Russia. The vessel, named Tamal, will be officially commissioned on July 1, 2025, in Kaliningrad, Russia, during a ceremony presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, alongside civil and military authorities from both nations. This marks the eighth Krivak-class ship acquired by New Delhi in the past two decades, and the second unit of the Tushil subclass—a modernized version of the earlier Talwar and Teg classes—designed for air defense, surface warfare, and anti-submarine operations.
The Tamal was constructed by the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad and represents the final foreign-built unit in line with India’s self-reliance strategy under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” program and the “Make in India” initiative. The ship incorporates 26% Indian-developed components, including BrahMos cruise missiles for land-attack and anti-ship roles, as well as a variety of locally developed sensors and fire-control systems. The project was overseen by a team of Indian specialists stationed in Russia, under the supervision of the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Ship Production.
Tamal features several enhancements over earlier Talwar-class iterations, such as vertical launch systems for surface-to-air missiles, a 100 mm naval gun, EO/IR sensors, 30 mm close-in weapon systems, heavyweight torpedo tubes, anti-submarine rocket launchers, and electronic warfare equipment. It is also capable of operating utility and airborne early warning helicopters, expanding its versatility in a range of operational environments. With a top speed of 30 knots and extended endurance for long missions, the ship is designed with adaptability for future upgrades.
The Tamal’s crew, comprising over 250 personnel, underwent intensive training in Russia, enduring the harsh winter conditions of Saint Petersburg and Kaliningrad. Following a three-month sea trial program, the frigate successfully demonstrated full operational capability of all sensors, fire control systems, and weaponry, meeting the performance standards required by the Indian Navy.
The Talwar Batch III class represents an evolution based on the Krivak III (Project 1135.6) design. Currently, the Indian Navy operates six other frigates from this series, all tailored for air defense, surface warfare, anti-submarine, and electronic warfare roles. These vessels are equipped to launch supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles, Shtil surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, and anti-submarine rocket launchers. Their gas turbine propulsion systems provide a maximum speed of 30 knots, supported by automated systems that ease maintenance and operation.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only
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