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Context :

• INS Tamal is a stealth guided missile frigate under construction in Russia. It is part of a defence cooperation between India & Russia.
• Recently, the ship's crew arrived in St Petersburg to prepare for its commissioning.

Background and Significance

• INS Tamal is an upgraded version of the Krivak III class frigate.
• It is part of a 5 billion $ deal between India & Russia for 4 stealth frigates:
  • 2 frigates will be built in Russia.
  • 2 more will be constructed at Goa Shipyard Limited in India.
• INS Tushil was the 1st of this class & it was commissioned into the Indian Navy in December 2024.
• INS Tamal will be the last foreign built warship that India will commission,
• India is now focusing on designing & constructing its own warship.

Key Features of INS Tamal

1. Design & Purpose
   • The frigate is designed for blue water operations. This means that it can operate in the open oceans, far from the coast.
   • It can engage in various dimensions of naval warfare, including:
     • Air warfare
     • Surface warfare
     • Underwater warfare
     • Electronic warfare

2. Specifications
   • Length: 125 meters.
   • Displacement: 3,900 tonnes.
   • It combines Russian design with Indian technology.
3. Indigenous Contributions
   • 26% of its components are from Indian manufacturers. This shows the country’s growing self reliance in defense technology.

Armament & Weapon Systems

1. Naval Artillery
   • It is Equipped with a 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount. And it enhances its naval artillery capabilities.
2. Anti-Submarine Warfare
   • The frigate is equipped with 2 Indigenous Triple Torpedo Launchers. They are capable of launching 324mm torpedoes.
   • It will be boosting its effectiveness in anti submarine warfare.
3. Missile Systems
   • BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles will provide the frigate with offensive capability.
   • Vertically launched Shtil surface to air missiles provide defensive protection against aerial threats.

Source: TH