INS TUSHIL Commences Sea Trials in Russia
INS TUSHIL the latest frigate built for the Indian Navy by Russia started sea trails on 05 March from Russia’s Baltiysk naval base. An Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA) had been signed in 2016 with Russia to purchase/construct four additional Admiral Grigorovich-class (Project 11356M) or Talwar Class frigates as known in India, through partnership between Russian and Indian shipyards. Russia was to supply two of the frigates (INS Tushil and INS Tamala), while the other two were to be constructed in India by Goa Shipyard.
Under the IGA Russia was to provide technical assistance in setting up production of 11356 project frigates at the Goa Shipyard. The first of the two frigates Krivak-III frigate to be acquired under the project, was launched at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia on Oct 29, 2021.
There has been delay due to Ukraine conflict, as Kiev was to supply the propulsion system. However now with the trials of INS TUSHIL, the first frigate It appears that despite a lot of geopolitical upheavals, Russia is on track to deliver both INS Tushil and INS Tamala by end 2024, as per the contracted schedule.
The two frigates under construction at Goa Shipyard are also under advanced stages of construction and should be joining the Indian Naval fleet by 2026 definitely.
