Indian defense chief is set to commission a Russian-built frigate next month, according to reports

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Russia next month to officially commission a stealth frigate at a shipyard in Kaliningrad, as reported by media outlets in both countries on Tuesday, citing government sources.

The three-day visit will commence on December 8 and will feature discussions with Singh’s Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov, according to the TASS news agency. Following these talks, the Indian minister will proceed to the Yantar shipyard in the Russian Baltic exclave, where the INS Tushil has been constructed.

The Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates were designed in the 2010s, with plans for six warships to enhance the Russian Navy’s capabilities. However, the project faced setbacks due to the cessation of cooperation with Ukraine, which withdrew following the 2014 US-backed coup in Kiev.

As a result, Russia had to create alternative power plants to complete three of the vessels, while also considering foreign buyers for the remaining three, which were put on hold. In 2018, India signed a contract to acquire two of these frigates, with an option for two additional ships to be constructed using Russian technology at Goa Shipyard Limited in India.

The Yantar Shipyard has previously constructed three of the six Talwar-class frigates currently operational in the Indian Navy, which share a similar design with Russia’s Krivak-class frigates.

The INS Tushil and the INS Tamala, both built in Kaliningrad and set for transfer to India, are regarded by the Indian military as part of the same class. They are equipped with India-specific communication systems and weaponry. The commissioning of the second vessel is anticipated in early 2025.

India and Russia have maintained a long-standing defense partnership, engaging in various joint production initiatives as New Delhi aims to enhance its domestic manufacturing capabilities to support its armed forces.