The commissioning will be presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command, as the chief guest, and will be attended by senior Indian and Russian defence officials, as per the Ministry of Defence.
Modern stealth frigate under Indo-Russian partnership INS Tamal is the second of the Tushil-class frigates and the eighth ship in the broader Krivak-class series sourced from Russia over the last two decades.
#Tamal
Commissioning Ceremony Today – #01Jul 25
The ship’s motto, ‘Sarvada Sarvatra Vijaya’ (Victorious Always Everytime) signifies the #IndianNavy’s undying commitment to operational excellence in every mission, complementing its motto ‘Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and… pic.twitter.com/bjLQHLtdPT— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 1, 2025
Built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, it is a part of a ₹21,000 crore defence agreement signed in 2016, according to a News18 report.
The vessel is the last of the two ships being constructed in Russia under this agreement, while two others – Triput-class frigates, are being built at Goa Shipyard Limited with Russian design assistance.
“The ship has 26% indigenous components, including the BrahMos long-range cruise missile for targeting both at sea and land,” the Defence Ministry noted. The number of Indian-origin systems on board has increased to 33, including contributions from firms such as BrahMos Aerospace, Bharat Electronics and Nova Integrated Systems, as per the ministry’s statement.
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Advanced capabilities and strategic role
Measuring 125 metres and displacing 3,900 tonnes, INS Tamal is fitted with vertical launch surface-to-air missiles, upgraded guns, anti-submarine rockets, and surveillance systems.
It supports helicopter operations and boasts advanced stealth features, giving it a low radar signature and improved survivability in contested waters. The frigate is also engineered to evade detection, with the ability to neutralise threats from submarines, drones, and modern fighter aircraft such as the F-16 and F-35, the News18 report added.Vi
“Tamal punches well above its weight with a very high tonnage to firepower ratio, extended endurance, and a top speed in excess of 30 knots,” the Ministry said. Its sea trials were conducted under harsh winter conditions in St Petersburg and Kaliningrad.
Its deployment under the Navy’s Western Command is considered critical, given the strategic significance of the Arabian Sea and proximity to Pakistan’s coastline.
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Tamal is a symbol of Lord Indra
The name “Tamal” refers to the mythical sword of Indra, the king of gods, and the ship’s mascot merges the Indian figure Jambavant, the immortal bear king of Indian mythology with Russia’s national animal, the Eurasian brown bear. The ship’s crew collectively takes great pride in calling themselves the ‘The Great Bears’.
The ship’s motto, ‘Sarvada Sarvatra Vijaya’ (victorious always every time) signifies the Indian Navy’s undying commitment to operational excellence in every mission, complementing its motto ‘combat ready, credible, cohesive and future ready force safeguarding national maritime interests – anytime, anywhere’.
