India’s new multi-purpose stealth guided missile destroyer INS Tushil, built for the Indian Navy in Russia, was commissioned into service on December 9 in an official ceremony in Kaliningrad, Russia, RT reported. The ceremony was presided over by Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and the commanders of the Indian and Russian navies, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev.
INS Tushil (meaning "protective shield") is an upgraded Krivak III-class frigate under the designation Project 1135.6. Six such frigates are in service with the Indian Navy, three of which are Talwar-class vessels built at the Baltisky Shipyard in St. Petersburg, while three are built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad.
Tushil will be the seventh Project 1135.6 ship in the Indian Navy, demonstrating the high efficiency of these ships and India's trust in the Russian defense industry, according to an official statement from the Russian United Shipbuilding Corporation.
According to Indian defense ministry officials, the construction process was closely monitored by a team of Indian experts. After construction, the frigate underwent a series of extensive trials, which began in January this year. The ship's crew was trained in Russia.
"The ship will arrive in India in a near-combat-ready state, ready to be deployed from the outset," New Delhi said in a statement on December 6.
Once commissioned, Tushil will join the Indian Navy's Western Fleet "Sword Arm", which is under the Western Naval Command, and will be among the most technologically advanced frigates in the world. "It will not only be a symbol of the growing capabilities of the Indian Navy but also the enduring strength of the Indo-Russian partnership," New Delhi said.
The Tushil is 125 metres long and weighs 3,900 tonnes. According to the Indian military, the ship is an “impressive fusion of advanced Russian and Indian technology and the best practices in warship building”.
INS Tushil is the first of two warships that India signed a contract for in October 2016. The second frigate under the contract, INS Tamal, is undergoing trials in the Baltic Sea and is expected to join the Indian Navy in 2025. Besides, two more ships from this project are being built with Russian assistance at Goa Shipyard Limited in India, with technology transfer from Russia.
The Russian Defense Ministry affirmed that the cooperation between the two countries on this project is "in line with the principles of the Make in India program" led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the market share of Indian shipbuilding systems is gradually increasing.
INS Tushil is equipped with the BrahMos supersonic missile system developed and manufactured by the Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace.
Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport is involved in about 10 joint naval projects in India.
