 "Made in Russia with engines from Ukraine: Why INS Tushil, India’s newest warship, is special")
On December 9, India’s naval power was further enhanced with the commissioning of INS Tushil at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was present at the commissioning, described the warship as “proud testament” to India’s growing maritime might and a “significant milestone” in the long-standing friendship between the two countries — India and Russia.
Besides boosting India’s naval might, the INS Tushil is special. That’s because the vessel’s engine has been made in Ukraine — amid the Russia-Ukraine war.
We examine how this came about and why the commissioning of INS Tushil is a big deal for the Indian Navy.
All about INS Tushil
Tushil, which means protector shield in Sanskrit, is an upgraded Krivak III class frigate of Project 11356. It will reach India nearly ready for combat and join the ‘Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy. As per the Indian Navy, it ranks among the most technologically-advanced frigates in the world.
The ship’s keel was laid on July 12, 2013 and was launched in water in October 2021. The ship sailed out for her maiden sea trials on January 25, 2024, and completed an exhaustive schedule of Factory trials followed by State Committee Trials and finally the Delivery Acceptance Trials, both in harbour and at sea, by September 24, 2024. The ship has successfully carried out firing trials of all her Russian weapon systems and would reach India in near combat-ready condition.
Project 11356 refers to the Talwar-class frigates, designed and built by Russia for the Indian Navy. The design of the ship is a more advanced version of the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates that Russia uses. So far, six such ships have been built and delivered by Russia to India between 1999 and 2013.
The deal for the vessel was signed between JSC Rosoboronexport, Indian Navy and the Government of India in October 2016 and was anticipated to be delivered by the end of 2022. However, as Alexey Rakhmanov, the Director-General of the United Shipbuilding Corporation of Russia, explained that the delivery of some supplies were delayed, which resulted in the building of the frigate being deferred.
Ukraine angle and INS Tushil
Notably, the delivery of INS Tushil was delayed owing to the delivery of the engine of the ship. The INS Tushil, which is a Krivak frigate, is powered by engines from Zorya Mashproekt of Ukraine. For the unaware, the Zorya-Mashproekt is a giant in marine gas turbine production.
Moreover, around 30 ships of the Indian Navy use gas turbines from the Ukrainian firm as their primary source of propulsion. These range from the Veer class missile boats to the ageing Rajput class destroyers to the brand-new Visakhapatnam class destroyers.
Earlier, Captain DK Sharma (retired), the former spokesperson of the Indian Navy had warned the conflict in Ukraine had the potential to cripple the Indian Navy.
As the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, Kyiv stopped delivery of all products to Moscow, leading to a pause in the shipbuilding. However, India struck a deal with the Ukrainian company through an inter-governmental agreement. As per the deal, New Delhi would procure the engines directly and then deliver them to the shipbuilding yard in Russia.
INS Tushil, a game-changer for Indian Navy
The INS Tushil, which is 125-m long, 3,900-tonne in weight, packs a lethal punch and is an impressive blend of Russian and Indian cutting-edge technologies and best practices in warship construction. In comparison, the INS Kolkata , which is currently the Navy’s largest destroyer is only 163 metres in length and has a displacement of 7,500 tonnes. It also possesses the capability of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots.
The ship’s new design enables it to be stealthier.
The ship will also be armed with eight BrahMos vertically launched anti-ship cruise missiles, 24 medium range and eight short range surface-to-air missiles, a 100 mm gun and two close-in weapons for last ditch defence against incoming missiles. In addition, it will have two double torpedo tubes and a rocket launcher to deal with submarines. It is also equipped with an array of radars, navigation aids, sonar and electronic warfare suites, fire control systems and decoys.
Defence experts note that the ship is also capable of embarking the upgraded anti-submarine and airborne early warning helicopters, the Kamov 28 and Kamov 31.
Igor Korotchenko, the editor-in-chief of National Defence magazine and the Director at the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade, told Sputnik India, “INS Tushil is equipped with advanced anti-submarine warfare and air defence systems, making it a versatile platform for multiple missions.”
He added that INS Tushil will serve India’ s geopolitical interests in view of “regional rivals” as well as is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ push.
The INS Tushil will also help India counter China ’s growing power in the Indian Ocean . Some experts have said that the Chinese navy is the fastest growing in the world and may have surpassed the US navy when it comes to sheer strength.
With inputs from agencies
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