Indian Navy to commission stealth frigate warship in Russia, 26% equipment indigenous; Know its specialty

Indian Navy is all set to launch its new destroyer and radar-evading multi-purpose stealth frigate warship 'Tamal' at Kaliningrad, Russia on July 1. 26% of the ship's equipment is indigenous, like the long-range cruise missile BrahMos with which it attacks sea and land.

This warship is a lethal ship weighing 125 meters long and 3900 tons in displacement. Tamal is the proud amalgamation of Russian and Indian modern technologies and best practices in ship construction. Its new ship design gives it modern destroyer capacities. The local content of the ship has now been boosted by up to 26% with the co-partnership between Indian Navy experts and Severnoye Design Bureau of Russia.

The warship has been named Tamal, which symbolizes the mythical sword used by Indra, the King of Gods, for war. The mascot of the ship is inspired by the similarity of the immortal bear king 'Jambavan' of Indian mythology and the Russian national animal - the Eurasian brown bear. The crew members of this destroyer take great pride in collectively calling themselves 'The Great Bears'.

Tamal is a testimony to the long-standing Indo-Russian cooperation and friendship, which stands the test of time. Tamal's motto is 'Sarvada Sarvatra Vijay'. It reflects the Indian Navy's unwavering commitment to operational excellence in every mission. VADM Sanjay J. Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, will preside over the ceremony as the Chief Guest. Several high-level defence officials from India and Russia will also be present on the momentous occasion.

The warship is the eighth in the series of Krivak class frigates acquired from Russia in the last two decades. Tamal is the second such frigate in the Tushil class, an upgraded version of its predecessors, Talwar and Teg class stealth frigates. Its crew comprises over 250 personnel who have undergone rigorous shore and underwater training in the most challenging winter conditions of St Petersburg and Kaliningrad in Russia.

Tamal has completed extensive sea trials in three consecutive months, testing its systems, weapons, and sensors. Tamal, after induction into the Navy, will be deployed in the Western Fleet, the 'Sword Arm' of the Indian Navy under the Western Naval Command. It will not only be a symbol of the growing capabilities of the Indian Navy but will also be a unique example of the collaborative power of the India-Russia partnership.