Indian Navy boosts fleet with commissioned INS Tushil
The missile frigate INS Tushil has been commissioned into the Indian Navy. This ship was built in Russia and was originally planned to serve in the Russian Navy. However, Moscow had to change its plans because, as a result of aggression against Ukraine, it lost access to necessary components.
11:29 AM EST, December 13, 2024
The commissioning ceremony for INS Tushil into the Indian Navy took place on December 9 at the Yantar Shipyard in the Kaliningrad Oblast. High-ranking government representatives from Russia and India participated in the event. As noted by the Naval News portal, INS Tushil is the seventh ship of this class (Talwar-class frigates) in the Indian Navy, but its history is considerably more interesting than that of the previous ships.
INS Tushil enters service, but not in the Russian army
The previous six Talwar-class frigates were produced for India in a "normal mode." INS Tushil, however, is a ship whose construction began in 2013 with the Russian Navy in mind. The hindrance came from sanctions imposed on Russia by Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. To make things even more interesting, Naval News reminds us that it was supposed to join the Black Sea Fleet.
This is because the propulsion system of INS Tushil consists of gas turbines produced by the Ukrainian company Zorya-Mashproekt, located in Mykolaiv. The Russians were cut off from these, as well as several other Ukrainian components and service support.
The most sensible option for Moscow was to offer INS Tushil to the Indian authorities. They committed to supplying the propulsion system and other necessary parts so that the work on INS Tushil could be completed. It is unclear where all the components transferred to Russia came from, but statements from the Indian defense minister suggest that at least part of them result from the work of local companies.
Indian authorities emphasize the significant involvement of their industry
"The 'Made in India' content is steadily increasing on many ships, and it is also visible on INS Tushil. The ship is a great testimony to the interdependence of the Russian and Indian industries," said the Indian defense minister during the ceremony in Kaliningrad.
Like other ships of this class, INS Tushil is nearly 410 feet long and has a displacement of about 4,400 tons. However, it differs from its predecessors due to the use of a greater number of systems produced in India. The Naval News portal lists these as including sonar systems, some radars, communication systems, and launchers for depth charges. Among the weaponry carried by this vessel are expected to be Indian PJ-10 BrahMos cruise missiles.
The Russians are working on two more ships of this type. One of them (Tamala) is in the outfitting stage and is expected to share the fate of INS Tushil. The other is at an early stage of construction, and at this moment, it is not clear whether it will ultimately be delivered to India.
