INS Tamal: A Symbol Of Enduring India-Russia Partnership

News18

28-05-2025

Last Updated:
INS Tamal, the second of four Talwar-class stealth frigates acquired under a 2016 Indo-Russian agreement, is poised to bolster India's maritime posture
The impending arrival of INS Tamal, India's newest BrahMos-armed stealth frigate, from Russia serves as a potent symbol of the enduring strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow. The frigate is armed with BrahMos and fitted with onboard systems built in India.
Constructed at Russia's Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Tamal, alongside its sister ship INS Tushil, commissioned in December 2024, represents a significant enhancement to India's naval capabilities and also underlines the deep-rooted defence cooperation that has long defined the relationship between India and Russia.
Modernising naval capabilities and self-reliance
INS Tamal, the second of four Talwar-class stealth frigates acquired under a 2016 Indo-Russian agreement, is poised to bolster India's maritime posture. These frigates, classified as improved Krivak-III class vessels, also known as Project 11356, are designed for long-range, blue-water operations and are equipped with advanced features such as stealth design, anti-submarine weapons, Shtil surface-to-air missile systems, and the formidable BrahMos cruise missile. INS Tamal itself incorporates approximately 26% Indian-made components. The first ship of this batch, INS Tushil, was commissioned in December 2024 by defence minister Rajnath Singh, undertaking an extensive transcontinental journey to India.
Crucially, the broader Krivak-III programme encompasses a dual-track strategy: two frigates built in Russia (INS Tushil and INS Tamal) and two, Tavasya and Triput, are to be constructed at India's Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) through technology transfer. This approach aligns with India's 'Make in India" and 'Self-Reliant India" initiatives, signifying a strategic pivot towards indigenous defence production. Looking ahead, a military-technical cooperation programme extending to 2031 has been agreed upon, suggesting a roadmap for continued collaboration, potentially including joint production of spare parts within India.
The launch of the frigate Tavasya at GSL in March 2025, the second of its class manufactured entirely in India, further underscores this commitment to technological self-sufficiency. This long history of naval cooperation also extends to conventional and nuclear submarines, with India having previously leased nuclear-powered submarines, such as the Chakra, from Russia, and the transfer of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya to the Indian Navy in 2014.
BrahMos: A cornerstone of joint prowess
The BrahMos missile system stands as a testament to the successful joint development between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya, forming BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited. This supersonic cruise missile, which can be launched from land, sea, air, and submarines, is a key armament of INS Tamal and other Indian Navy platforms.
Initially, the missile's range was capped at 290 km due to Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) restrictions, which limit technology transfers for missiles exceeding 300 km to non-member states. However, India's entry into the MTCR in June 2016 removed these barriers, allowing for the enhancement of BrahMos's capabilities.
The missile's range has since been extended to over 450 km and, in some cases, up to 800 km, significantly enhancing India's offensive capabilities and strategic deterrence against both land and naval targets. Beyond domestic deployment, the BrahMos has also found international markets, with the Philippines securing the first export order for shore-based anti-ship batteries, demonstrating the success of this Indo-Russian joint venture on a global scale.
Enduring defence ties amid shifting geopolitics
India's defence relations with Russia trace back almost half a century, with the Indian armed forces historically relying on Soviet-origin weapon systems. India continues to rely on a wide array of Russian-origin platforms, including T-72 and T-90 tanks, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, and MiG-29K fighter jets, KA-31 helicopters, and Akula- and Kilo-class submarines.
This longstanding bond has been formalised through mechanisms such as the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC), established in 2000, and a Programme for Military-Technical Cooperation, which was valid until 2020.
Over the years, this cooperation has evolved from a mere buyer-seller dynamic into joint research, development, and production of military platforms, with the BrahMos missile serving as a prime example of this changed approach.
While the share of India's defence imports from Russia has notably decreased from 76% in 2009 to 36% in 2023, reflecting India's strategy to diversify its procurement towards Western countries, Russia remains a crucial partner for India's existing military arsenal. Despite global geopolitical shifts, including the Ukraine conflict, which has reportedly led to delays in the delivery of some systems like the S-400 missile defence system and spare parts, India continues to rely on a wide array of Russian-origin platforms, including tanks, fighter jets, helicopters, and submarines.
Economic ties have surged, with bilateral trade reaching a record high of USD 65.7 billion in fiscal year 2023-24, up 33% year-on-year, and nearly 5.5 times higher than the pre-Covid pandemic trade of USD 10.1 billion.
A pragmatic partnership for India's strategic autonomy
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The induction of INS Tamal into the Indian Navy, alongside ongoing broader defence collaborations, underscores India's pragmatic foreign policy and commitment to strategic autonomy. While navigating complex global dynamics and calls from the West to reduce ties with Moscow, New Delhi has maintained its crucial relationship with Russia, acknowledging its enduring role as a key security and economic partner.
This partnership is an active, evolving engagement that continues to serve India's strategic interests in maintaining a robust defence posture and asserting its position as a decisive maritime force in the 21st century. The arrival of INS Tamal symbolises a continuing and essential aspect of India's defence strategy, reinforcing its capabilities while demonstrating a balanced approach to its foreign policy.
First Published:
May 28, 2025, 07:30 IST