GS III – Security
What is INS Tamal?
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INS Tamal is a Talwar-class (Krivak‑III-type) guided-missile stealth frigate acquired from Russia.
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Built at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, it is the eighth Talwar-class vessel and the last warship India has procured from abroad
Project Background & Acquisition
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Under a 2016 Indo-Russian agreement, India agreed to purchase four Krivak‑III frigates—two built in Russia (INS Tushil & INS Tamal), and two to be built in India via Goa Shipyard Ltd. under a technology transfer arrangement
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INS Tushil was commissioned in December 2024; INS Tamal is scheduled for formal commission on 1 July 2025 in Kaliningrad
Specifications & Capabilities
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Displacement: ~3,900 tonnes; Length: ~125 m
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Propulsion: Russian-built gas turbines (~44,000 hp), achieving 30+ knots
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Stealth Features: Radar, acoustic, and infrared signature suppression
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Armament:
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BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles
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Shtil‑1 surface-to-air missiles via VLS (vertical launch)
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Anti-submarine torpedoes/rockets, 76 mm SRGM, and helicopter capacity with Kamov ASW/AEW choppers
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Indigenous Content: ~26% of systems sourced from Indian manufacturers (BEL, BrahMos Aerospace, Tata, etc.)
Strategic Significance
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Blue-Water Capability: Enables multi-domain naval operations—air, surface, sub-surface, electronic warfare
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Maritime Deterrence: BrahMos and VLS SAMs enhance deterrence in Indo-Pacific and IOR
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Self-Reliance Shift: Marks end of reliance on foreign-built major warships; future vessels will be domestically built
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‘Builder’s Navy’ Vision: Moves India from a “Buyers’ Navy” toward indigenously built fleet