On July 1, 2025, at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, India will commission INS Tamal, a 3,900‑tonne multi-role stealth frigate and the final vessel built abroad under Project 11356.
Built on the Krivak-III class (Talwar-class) design, Tamal, meaning “sword”, can reach speeds of up to 30 knots with a range of 3,000 km. It comes armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Shtil surface‑to‑air systems, torpedoes, rocket launchers, and is capable of supporting a multi-role helicopter.
This induction marks the end of an era of foreign-built acquisitions. Going forward, India plans to transition entirely to indigenous shipbuilding—highlighted by its growing fleet of Nilgiri- and Shivalik-class domestically built frigates.
The commissioning ceremony will be overseen by Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, alongside senior Indian and Russian dignitaries.
With its induction, INS Tamal will significantly enhance the Western Fleet—India’s “Sword Arm” in the Arabian Sea, fortifying its anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, and electronic warfare capabilities
As the curtain closes on India’s foreign-built warship program, INS Tamal’s arrival underscores the nation’s lockstep journey toward maritime self-reliance and smarter strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific.
