India Commissions New Stealth Frigate from Russia

(MENAFN) Russia has handed over a newly built Krivak-class stealth warship to the Indian Navy, as the two nations reinforce their longstanding military collaboration.

The multi-functional frigate, officially named Tamal, was inducted into service during a ceremony held in Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave on Tuesday.

The Tamal is the eighth vessel of its class delivered to India in the last 20 years, with its name symbolizing a divine sword wielded by Hindu deities in mythological battles.

The ship was assembled at the Yantar shipbuilding facility, under the close supervision of Indian personnel from the Warship Overseeing Team stationed in Kaliningrad, as detailed by New Delhi’s Ministry of Defense.

Indian-made systems account for 26 percent of the ship’s components.

“Major Indian OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) involved in the frigate were BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd, BEL, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, Johnson Controls India and many more,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.

Among the Tamal’s advanced systems are vertically launched munitions, an upgraded 100mm naval cannon, and state-of-the-art electronic warfare equipment.

Carrying a crew exceeding 250 members, the ship has undergone extensive sea evaluations and training in Russia’s demanding maritime environments, achieving a top speed above 30 knots, as confirmed by military sources.

Additionally, the frigate is armed with the high-speed BrahMos missile platform, along with a Surface Surveillance Radar suite and the HUMSA NG Mk II sonar system.

The defense partnership between New Delhi and Moscow remains robust.

Just last week, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov emphasized in a discussion with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, that the bond between the two nations is especially strong in the military-technical sphere.

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