The Indian Navy is set to commission its newest warship, INS Tamal, on July 1, 2025, in a ceremony held at Kaliningrad, Russia. This marks a significant milestone as it is the last warship the Indian Navy has imported. The commissioning ceremony will be presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh, the Western Naval Commander, with high-ranking officials from both Indian and Russian governments and defense forces in attendance.

INS Tamal is a multi-role stealth frigate and the last of the Krivak class frigates to be inducted from Russia, totaling eight ships over the past two decades. It was constructed at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad. The ship is the second of the Tushil class, which is an advanced version of the Talwar and Teg classes.

The construction of INS Tamal aligns with the Indian government's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" and "Make in India" initiatives, promoting self-reliance in defense manufacturing. While built in Russia, INS Tamal incorporates 26% indigenous components, including the BrahMos long-range cruise missile capable of striking both sea and land targets. The number of Made-in-India systems has more than doubled to 33. Some of the major Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) involved in the frigate's construction were BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd, BEL, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems from Tata, Elcome Marine, and Johnson Controls India.

Measuring 125 meters in length and displacing 3,900 tons, INS Tamal is a formidable warship incorporating advanced technologies from both India and Russia. It possesses enhanced stealth features and greater stability. The ship is equipped with the 'SHTIL' vertical launch air defense system, including the vertical launch short-range air-to-air missile (VLSRAAM) and the medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM), capable of engaging various aerial threats. It also features the 'A-190-01' 100 mm naval cannon and the AK-630 30 mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) for close-range defense. The ship can operate air early warning and multi-role helicopters, such as the Kamov-28.

The crew of over 250 personnel underwent rigorous training in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, Russia, experiencing challenging winter conditions. This training included cold-weather trials, high-sea combat simulations, and live weapon firing exercises. INS Tamal completed extensive sea trials over three months, validating its systems, weapons, and sensors.

Upon commissioning, INS Tamal will join the Western Fleet, under the Western Naval Command, becoming part of the 'Sword Arm' of the Indian Navy. The Western Naval Command oversees operations in the Arabian Sea and the western Indian Ocean, including areas near Karachi and along India's west coast.

With the addition of INS Tamal, the Indian Navy will operate ten ships with similar capabilities and commonality in equipment, weapons, and sensors across four different classes. This includes two similar frigates, the Triput class, which are being constructed at Goa Shipyard Limited with technology transfer and design assistance from Russia. The commissioning of INS Tamal marks a significant step in enhancing India's maritime defense capabilities and its transition towards becoming a "Builder's Navy".