Tamal during trials. Photo: Screenshot from Indian Navy video
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An Indian Navy frigate has been spotted in the Gulf of Finland, underscoring continued naval cooperation between Russia and India at a time when India seeks to reduce its reliance on foreign-built military vessels.
The warship, INS Tamal, was recently delivered by Russia’s Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania. According to Indian defence media, the ship was handed over to India earlier this month following a contract signed in 2016.
Tamal is 125 metres long, weighs 3,900 tonnes, and includes a helicopter landing deck. It is equipped for missions lasting up to 30 days without port calls. Its reported top speed exceeds 30 knots, or nearly 60 kilometres per hour.
The vessel’s armament includes the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, anti-submarine rockets, a 100mm naval gun, and 30mm anti-aircraft cannons. Naval analysts describe the ship as heavily armed for its size.
Tamal is expected to join India’s Western Naval Command and will be based in Karwar, located in Karnataka on India’s southwestern coast. Before reaching its home port, the
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
