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INS Tamal
Indian Navy frigate From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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INS Tamal (F71) is a Talwar-class frigate of the Indian Navy. It is the eighth ship of the Talwar-class frigates and the second of the third batch of the class frigates ordered by the Indian Navy. She was built by the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. This is the 51st Indian naval ship constructed by Russia (and former USSR) over a span of 65 years and also the last warship to be imported by the Indian Navy from any foreign source. The commissioning commander of the ship is Captain Sridhar Tata, a specialist in "gunnery and missile warfare".[2][6]
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Description and design
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In September 2016, it was reported that India would acquire additional two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates from Russia and remaining two will be built in India.[7] These frigates would be based on the Talwar class and were to be commissioned into the Russian Navy, but after the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, Ukraine refused to supply any more engines for the Russian ships. By then, only two of the six have been commissioned by Russia.[8] In August 2017, the Indian Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the then-Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, cleared a proposal of ₹490 crore (equivalent to ₹687 crore or US$81 million in 2023) to buy two gas turbine sets from Zorya-Mashproekt in Ukraine for the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates being built in Russia.[9][10]
In October 2018, the Indian Ministry of Defence signed a deal for ₹8,000 crore (equivalent to ₹110 billion or US$1.3 billion in 2023) for procuring two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, Admiral Butakov (renamed Tushil) and Admiral Istomin (renamed Tamal).[11][12][13] The two frigates were scheduled to be delivered to the Indian Navy by 2022.[14][15]
This is the first ship of the Talwar-class frigates to feature vertical launched Shtil-1 missiles with two 12 (2×6) VLS configuration having total 24 missiles with an enhanced range of 50 km (31 mi).[1][16]
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Construction
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INS Tamal was laid down on 15 November 2013 as Admiral Istomin.[17][18]
Two sets of Zorya-Mashproekt M7N1 marine powerplant for INS Tushil and INS Tamal were ordered in August 2017 at a cost of around $76 million. Each M7N1 system includes two DT59 top speed (boost) gas turbines, two DS71 cruise turbines, two R063, one R1063 reduction gears and its control system. It can provide a total power output of 44,000 hp (33,000 kW). The powerplants were delivered to Kaliningrad Shipyard in late 2020 to early 2021.[4]
The ship was launched on 24 February 2022 and sailed for the initial sea trials in November 2024.[2]
On 21 January 2025, reports emerged that INS Tamal, being built by Yantar Shipyard has started sea trials. The initial Pennant number was spotted as 445. In April 2024, a report suggested that INS Tamal will be delivered to India by February 2025.[19][20][21]
On 16 February 2025, a 200 personnel strong Indian crew of the ship reached Saint Petersburg for training in order to undertake its Delivery Acceptance Trials. The crew was then transferred to Kaliningrad. Meanwhile, the ship had completed Manufacturer Trials and was undergoing State Committee Trials. The final Delivery Acceptance Trials would be 45 to 50 days long, including manoeuvres both at harbour and sea as well as weapons firings. The trials also included firing of all Russian-origin weapons including Shtil-1 air defence system, naval gun and torpedoes.[6][2] Eventually, following the six-week trials, the frigate was officially handed over to India.[22] As of May 2025, the ship would be commissioned in late June 2025 and would reach India's western shores in September.[23]
The ship was commissioned on 1 July 2025 in Kaliningrad, Russia by Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. The ship completed its three month-long trials. The commissioning ceremony was also attended by Mikhail Babich, Deputy Director General of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation of the Russian Federation and Vice Admiral R. Swaminathan, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition among others. The guard of honour was joined by personnel from Russia's Baltic Fleet.[2][24][25]
The commissioning commander of the ship, Captain Sridhar Tata, has a history of serving on 12 different warships including commanding three of them. Additionally, he participated in Operation Vijay, Operation Parakram, and anti-piracy missions. He was one of the founding member of the Maritime Security Wing of the National Security Council Secretariat under NSA Ajit Doval.[3]
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Service history
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2025
In the early hours of 18 July 2025, multiple media reports confirmed INS Tamal's unscheduled presence in the Finnish territorial waters. The Finnish Navy was also reportedly in contact with the vessel since it was spotted in the Gulf of Finland and Tamal was reportedly transiting towards Bay of Bothnia.[26][27][28] By 19 July, Saturday, the ship reached the Bay of Bothnia, which in turn is partly in the Swedish territorial waters. While the passage of an Indian warship along this route is unusual, neither Finland nor Sweden suspected the vessel of any unlawful activity.[29] Later, the ship turned back southwards and then left the Sea of Åland on a southwards course in the afternoon of 20 July. As of the morning of 21 July, the ship reached the international waters and was in the Baltic Sea just north of Sweden's Gotland Island. However, the reason for the ship’s weekend route remained speculative, though its presence in Finnish waters was deemed permissible under the principle of “innocent passage,” as it posed no threat to the country’s peace or security.[30][31]
Between 6 and 9 August 2025, INS Tamal called at Port of Casablanca of Morocco. This is one of the port call on the ship's voyage to India from Russia via multiple European and Asian ports. The ship also undertook a Passage Exercise with Moroccan frigate Mohammed VI after departure from the port.[32]
Later, Tamal also participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with ITS Trieste of the Italian Navy before calling at the Port of Naples in Italy between 13 and 16 August 2025. On the occasion of the 79th Indian Independence Day on 15 August, a ceremonial parade was organised onboard the ship while the crew also visited the Indian embassy to Italy. The port call follows the upgradation of both the country's bilateral ties to Strategic Partnership in 2023 through the India-Italy Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029.[33]
On 19 August, the ship reached Crete Naval Base, Souda Bay, Greece.[34] The crew engaged with their counterparts of the Hellenic Navy and NATO Navy while the Commanding Officer called on multiple senior officers like the Base Commander of Souda Bay Naval Base, Commodore Dionysios Mantadakis, Head of NMIOTC, Captain Kouplakis Iliias and Commanding Officer of the Naval Support Activity of the US Navy, Captain Stephen Steacy. A cross-deck visit for the Tamal crew was also hosted onboard ITS Trieste in Souda Bay. The visit to Greece concluded on 22 August. The ship also undertook a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with HS Ritsos, a Roussen-class fast attack craft of the Hellenic Navy.[35]
On 27 August 2025, INS Tamal called at Jeddah Port of Saudi Arabia. The ship was joined by INS Surat (D69) the following day, i.e., on 28 August. The ships' crew will also interact with the Royal Saudi Navy and Border Guards as part of a goodwill visit along with diplomatic talks, sports fixture and exploring "avenues for further engagement".[36]
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References
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