BrahMos and Tamal: A New Era for Indian Navy

Armed with BrahMos, ‘Tamal’ to Strengthen Indian Navy’s Firepower

India is set to welcome one of the world’s most advanced multi-role stealth guided missile frigates. The ship, named Tamal, was built at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard. This warship can launch the deadly BrahMos anti-ship missile. It is part of the Indo-Russian agreement signed in 2016. The agreement involves the construction of four Talwar-class stealth frigates, two in Russia and two in India. The second warship under this deal is now ready. It is expected to be commissioned into the Indian Navy by June 2025.

The first of the two Russian-built frigates, INS Tushil, has already joined the Indian Navy. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh personally inducted it during his visit to Russia on December 9, 2024. After covering over 12,500 miles and passing through eight countries, INS Tushil has successfully reached India.

Indian Crew Arrives in Russia for ‘Tamal’s’ Trials

Trials for Tamal are currently underway in Russia. Once the warship is officially inducted, an Indian naval crew will sail it home. In preparation, around 200 Indian Navy personnel have arrived in St. Petersburg to undergo training and participate in sea trials. These trials will last for about six weeks, after which the warship will be readied for its voyage to India.

Why is ‘Tamal’ One of the Deadliest Warships?

Like a sharpened sword (Talwar), Tamal is designed for precision strikes and high maneuverability. It can cruise at speeds of up to 30 knots (55 km/h). It has an operational range of 3,000 kilometers on a single mission.

Key features include BrahMos Missile Ability. The warship can fire the supersonic BrahMos missile. This makes it a formidable threat to enemy vessels.Tamal is equipped with advanced anti-submarine rockets and torpedoes to counter underwater threats.Helicopter Deployment is another important component of the warship. It can carry and operate a multi-role helicopter. This allows for extended surveillance and combat missions. It is built to evade enemy radar detection, enhancing its survivability in modern warfare. Tamal weighs 3,900 tons, making it a heavily armed yet agile warship.

‘Tamal’ to Be India’s Last Imported Warship

INS Tushil and Tamal are part of the third batch of Talwar-class frigates. However, the Indian Navy has declared that Tamal will be the last imported warship. This signals a shift toward complete indigenous warship production.

India has been operating Talwar-class frigates since 2003, with six currently in service. Four of these have already been armed with BrahMos missiles, while the remaining two are undergoing upgrades.

Despite concerns about possible delays due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the delivery of Tamal has remained on schedule. The frigate is powered by Ukrainian-built engines, which were delivered before the war began. India’s Goa Shipyard is also constructing two additional stealth frigates, with engines already secured. The first of these, INS Triput, has been launched for sea trials, marking significant progress in India’s indigenous warship-building capabilities.

With Tamal set to join the fleet soon, the Indian Navy’s firepower will increase significantly. Its strategic reach in the Indo-Pacific region will also receive a major boost.