INS Thamal, a state-of-the-art warship built in Russia for the Indian Navy, has been formally commissioned. The ceremony took place in Kaliningrad, Russia. Significantly, INS Thamal will be the last warship constructed for India on foreign soil. Going forward, all Indian naval warships will be built domestically under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Tamal is the second of the Tushil-class stealth warships commissioned by the Navy, designed on the Russian Krivak-class model. The vessel was constructed at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, under a 2016 Indo-Russian agreement valued at ₹21,000 crore.
The deal included the construction of four warships based on Russian specifications, two in Russia and two at the Goa Shipyard in India. The Indian-built ships are named the Triput-class. INS Thamal incorporates 26 percent indigenous components.
Weighing 3,900 tonnes and stretching 125 metres in length, the warship is armed with heavy torpedoes and the supersonic BrahMos missiles. It features advanced weaponry capable of launching surface-to-air missiles to intercept enemy fighter jets and helicopters. Additionally, it is equipped with anti-submarine rocket systems and sophisticated surveillance technologies.
INS Thamal has a helicopter dock for airborne operations, significantly enhancing surveillance capabilities and facilitating rapid-response countermeasures in the maritime domain. Built with stealth features, the vessel is designed to evade radar detection and is capable of engaging advanced fighter jets like the F-16 and F-35. It also has integrated defence systems to counter submarine and drone threats.
With a top speed of 30 nautical miles (approximately 50 km/h), the warship successfully passed sea trials in diverse and extreme weather conditions before its induction. It will now be deployed in the Arabian Sea as part of the Indian Navy’s Western Command.
INS Thamal’s crest is a fusion of Jambavan, the immortal warrior from the Ramayana, and the Eurasian brown bear, the national animal of Russia, symbolising the enduring Indo-Russian strategic partnership. The ship is named after ‘Tamal’, the divine sword wielded by Indra, the king of gods in Hindu mythology. The ship’s official motto is ‘Sarvada Sarvatra Vijaya’, Victory Always, Everywhere.
