Armed With BrahMos, Built To Evade S-500: INS Tamal Is Deadlier Than F-35s, F-16s
India will induct the advanced stealth frigate INS Tamal on 1 July 2025, built under an Indo-Russian collaboration, to modernise its naval fleet amid rising security challenges
In a landmark step to bolster India's maritime defence capabilities, the Indian Navy is all set to induct the advanced stealth frigate INS Tamal on July 1, 2025. Built under Indo-Russian collaboration at Russia's Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, the warship comes as part of a Rs 21,000 crore defence agreement inked in 2016, underscoring India's growing urgency to modernise its naval fleet amid rising security challenges in the Indian Ocean region.
The induction ceremony will be attended by senior Indian naval officials, including Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. INS Tamal is the second of four stealth frigates being delivered under the agreement and represents a significant step in India's effort to match China's rapidly expanding naval footprint.
The strategic landscape has undergone a seismic shift in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. Countries worldwide are now reassessing their defence readiness, and India is no exception. With Pakistan on the western flank, China to the north and east, and three vast water bodies – the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean – surrounding it, India's geographical and geopolitical position demands robust multi-dimensional defence capabilities.
China's aggressive posturing and its growing influence in the Indian Ocean have prompted India to take decisive steps to secure its maritime boundaries. INS Tamal is part of this urgent response.
INS Tamal, a stealth guided-missile frigate, is a modernised Kirvak-class warship, and an enhanced version of the INS Tushil, which joined the fleet in December 2024. The vessel is engineered to evade enemy detection, equipped with cutting-edge infrared stealth technology, and designed to integrate Indian-developed weapons and radar systems.
Importantly, the vessel's stealth profile helps it operate beyond the reach of air defence systems like the Russian S-500, giving it a distinct tactical edge in sea-based operations.
Strategic Deployment In Arabian Sea
Following its commissioning, INS Tamal will be deployed in the Arabian Sea under the Navy's Western Command, a region fraught with strategic significance. The maritime boundary between India and Pakistan lies here, and proximity to Karachi, Pakistan's commercial and naval hub, amplifies the importance of this deployment.
During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, India's Western Fleet dealt a decisive blow to Pakistan in this very zone. Now, with INS Tamal joining the frontlines, India is once again asserting its maritime readiness in a historically sensitive region.
The Rs 21,000 crore deal with Russia includes four stealth frigates of the Kirvak-III class. Two of these are being constructed in Russia – INS Tushil and INS Tamal – at a combined cost of Rs 8,000 crore. The remaining two will be built domestically at Goa Shipyard with Russian technical assistance, contributing to the Centre's 'Make in India' defence push and costing Rs 13,000 crore.
What sets INS Tamal apart is its 26% indigenous content, a move that signals India's slow but determined stride towards defence self-reliance.
As China's naval activities continue to expand from the South China Sea into the Indian Ocean, India is steadily reinforcing its seaborne defences – from the induction of stealth frigates like INS Tamal to strengthening aircraft carrier capabilities and deploying long-range surveillance assets.
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