The Indian Navy will commission its last foreign-built warship in Russia on July 1, with future vessels to be built at home.
Tamal is the eighth Krivak-class frigate inducted from Russia over the past two decades, with two more being built in India with transfer of technology and design assistance from Moscow.
The first six vessels of the class were designated the Talwar-class by the Indian Navy, while the Tamal is the second ship of the Tushil-class, whose first ship was commissioned in December.
The Tushil-class is an upgrade of the Talwar-class, whose first ship was commissioned in 2003.
Built at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, Tamal features 26 percent Indian components, including the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile to engage both land and sea targets.
Other indigenous systems include a surface surveillance radar complex and the HUMSA NG Mk II sonar with the anti-submarine weapon firing complex built by state-run Bharat Electronics limited.
Multi-Role Warship
The Tamal is designed to operate across the full spectrum of naval warfare: air, surface, underwater, and electromagnetic.
Apart from the Brahmos, the warship is armed with an array of weapons and sensors such as the Shtil vertical launched surface-to-air missile system, an improved A190-01 100mm naval gun, and an advanced electro-optical/infrared Sandal V system.
Additional armaments include a standard 30mm close-in weapon system, torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, and a range of surveillance and fire control radars and systems.
Also part of the platform’s assets are force multipliers such as air early warning and multi-role helicopters, which can operate from its deck.
Additional Features
The 125-meter (410 feet)-long, 3,900-ton warship has a top speed of 30 knots (56 kilometers/35 miles per hour).
It has a crew of over 250 sailors.
The two Tushil frigates have reportedly been bought for 80 billion Indian Rupees ($930 million), while the two being built locally are to cost 130 billion Indian Rupees ($1.4 billion).
The Indian Navy plans to expand its fleet size of 140 warships and submarines to 180 by 2030 to deal with the twin threats of the Chinese and Pakistani navies.
