Context & Background
- INS Tamal, a Talwar-class frigate, was commissioned in Kaliningrad, Russia.
- It is the last Indian Navy warship expected to be bought from a foreign shipyard.
- Marks a significant shift towards complete naval indigenisation — in both design and construction.
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security , Defence)
Indigenisation in Shipbuilding: Key Milestone
- Post-Independence, India has relied on foreign powers for most of its naval fleet.
- Over the years, India has moved towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
- INS Tamal is part of Project 1135.6, involving improved versions of the Krivak/Talwar-class frigates.
- Built by Yantar Shipyard, Russia; the remaining Talwar-class ships are being built in Goa Shipyard Limited, India.
Technical Features of INS Tamal
- Length: 124.8 m, Displacement: 4,035 tonnes, Top speed: 30 knots (56 km/h)
- Endurance: 8,500 nautical miles
- Armament:
- BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (versatile land-sea strike)
- Shtil-1 air defence system, torpedoes, ASW (anti-submarine warfare) rockets
- Barak-1 missiles, AK-630 close-in weapon system
- Capable of operating in blue-water missions (open ocean), includes stealth features
Evolution of Frigates (Sidebar Insight)
- Frigates evolved from small, fast warships in the Age of Sail to multi-role vessels post-WWII.
- Modern frigates are equipped for:
- Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)
- Anti-surface warfare
- Air defence
- Electronic warfare (EW)
- Ballistic missile defence in some advanced navies
- Smaller than destroyers but more agile and cost-effective for escort missions and power projection.
India’s Shipbuilding Shift: Strategic View
- India’s naval strategy focuses on:
- Maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
- Self-reliant production pipelines to reduce strategic dependencies.
- India now builds indigenous vessels like:
- INS Vikrant (aircraft carrier)
- Project 15B (Visakhapatnam-class destroyers)
- Project 17A (stealth frigates)
- Scorpene-class submarines under Make-in-India partnership.
Global Comparisons & Relevance
- Nations like the USA, Russia, China, France already have established self-sufficient naval production.
- India joins the club of nations with multi-domain naval autonomy — surface, subsurface, and aerial.
Policy & Institutional Linkages
- GS 3: Defence Technology, Indigenisation in Defence Sector
- Key Institutions:
- Ministry of Defence
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL)
- Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL)
- Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL)
- Initiatives:
- Make in India
- Strategic Partnership Model (SPM)
- Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)
Additional Data & Achievements
- India is now among the top 10 naval powers globally in terms of tonnage and capability.
- DEFEXPO 2024 highlighted India’s push toward becoming a net defence exporter — $5B by 2028.
- Indian Navy’s goal: 100% indigenous warship construction by 2030.
Challenges Ahead
- Import dependency still exists for:
- Gas turbines, radars, and sensor suites
- Advanced combat management systems
- Need for skilled shipyard workforce and global-level R&D investment
- Long gestation periods and project cost overruns
Way Forward
- Strengthen Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) models in naval manufacturing.
- Promote defence exports of light frigates, OPVs (Offshore Patrol Vessels), and weapon systems.
- Enhance cooperation with friendly countries for technology transfer while prioritizing indigenous design.
- Continue fleet modernization under Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (MCPP)
