Update: India commissions first Batch III frigate of Talwar class

INS Tushil, pictured here before its commissioning ceremony. (Indian Ministry of Defence)

India has commissioned its first Batch III frigate under the Talwar class, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 10 December.

Inducted into service as INS Tushil, the warship was commissioned one day earlier at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.

Commenting on Tushil's capabilities, the MoD said the vessel is “designed for bluewater operations across the spectrum of naval warfare in all four dimensions – air, surface, underwater, and electromagnetic”.

The MoD added that Tushil is armed with weapons including the joint India-Russia-developed BrahMos cruise missile, the vertically launched Shtil surface-to-air missile, an upgraded medium-range anti-air and surface gun, an “optically controlled” close-range rapid fire gun system, and anti-submarine torpedoes and rockets. It is also equipped with an electronic warfare and communication suite.

The MoD also said the ship is capable of embarking Kamov Ka-28 ‘Helix A' maritime/anti-submarine helicopters and Kamov Ka-31 ('Helix-B') early-warning (EW) helicopters. It added that the ship's gas turbine propulsion plant can achieve a top speed of more than 30 kt.

According to the MoD, Tushil's keel was laid in July 2013 and it was launched in October 2021. Its sea trials commenced in January 2024 and it underwent additional factory trials and acceptance trials that were completed in September 2024. The MoD added, “The ship has successfully carried out firing trials of all her Russian weapon systems and [will] reach India in near combat-ready condition.”

The ship is part of separate contracts for a total of four Batch III Talwar-class frigates, which were acquired under a 2016 inter-governmental agreement signed between New Delhi and Moscow.