The Indian Navy has officially inducted the Russian-made guided missile frigate INS Tushil in a ceremony held on Monday at Kaliningrad, Russia. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, and senior Indian officials were in attendance to witness the event.

INS Tushil is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s operational strength in the Indian Ocean, a region where China's PLA Navy has been increasingly active in recent years. The warship is part of a $2.5-billion deal signed between India and Russia in 2016 for the construction of four stealth frigates for the Indian Navy. As per the agreement, two frigates were built in Russia, and the other two will be manufactured in India.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Singh highlighted the warship as a symbol of India’s growing maritime power and a significant step in its enduring relationship with Russia. He called it a prime example of the successful collaboration between Russian and Indian industries, which reflects India’s progress towards technological excellence.

Singh also emphasized that India and Russia are set to enter a “new era” of cooperation in fields like artificial intelligence, cyber security, space exploration, and counter-terrorism.

The ship’s construction was closely monitored by a team of Indian specialists stationed at Kaliningrad, who were part of the ‘Warship Overseeing Team’. The 3,900-tonne vessel, measuring 125 meters in length, combines advanced Russian and Indian technologies, creating a powerful addition to the naval fleet. The warship features enhanced stealth capabilities and improved stability.

The collaboration with Severnoye Design Bureau has increased the ship’s indigenous content to an impressive 26%, with major contributions from Indian defence firms such as BrahMos Aerospace, Bharat Electronics, Keltron, Tata’s Nova Integrated Systems, Elcome Marine, and Johnson Controls India.

INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate under Project 1135.6, and its completion marks the hard work of hundreds of shipyard workers and numerous Russian and Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).