India still waits for a stealth fighter, but now has a stealth ship that can destroy F-35, Su-57, or China’s J-35A

INS Tamal, a stealth frigate built under the Indo-Russian Project 1135.6, has joined the Indian Navy's Western Fleet. The ship will soon reach her homeport of Karwar after completing extensive sea and harbour trials. With its advanced sensors, weaponry, and stealth design, INS Tamal is set to play a major role in India's maritime operations. Tamal will join the Western Fleet—'The Sword Arm' of the Indian Navy—under the Western Naval Command

Navy adds stealth edge ahead of IAF's AMCA debut

While the Indian Air Force’s stealth fighter programme, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), remains several years away from deployment, the Indian Navy is getting a major stealth platform. INS Tamal, the eighth Krivak-class frigate sourced from Russia over two decades, is now ready for operational duty.

The ship is the second unit of the follow-on Tushil class built under Project 1135.6. It has been designed for full-spectrum blue-water operations and will operate under the Western Naval Command.

Stealth and trials before homeport deployment

INS Tamal was launched on February 24, 2022. Her maiden sea trials began in November 2024, and by June 2025, she had completed Factory Trials, State Committee Trials, and Delivery Acceptance Trials.

During the tests, major weapons of Russian origin—such as the Shtil-1 surface-to-air missile system, torpedoes, and naval guns—were validated for operational readiness.

Thanks to her stealth hull and radar-evading design, INS Tamal can operate beyond the detection range of advanced air defence systems.

Key specifications of INS Tamal

Length: 125 metres

Displacement: 3,900 tonnes

Speed: Up to 55 km/h

Weapon systems onboard include:

BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles (range: 290–450 km)

Extended-range vertical launch surface-to-air missiles

100 mm naval main gun

30 mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)

Heavyweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rocket launchers

Air support capabilities:

Operates Kamov-28 (anti-submarine) and Kamov-31 (early warning) helicopters

Combat readiness and system integration

The ship blends Indian and Russian technologies in its integrated combat management system. This allows its weapons and sensors to work in sync for situational awareness and rapid threat response.

INS Tamal also features electronic warfare suites and EO/IR systems for surveillance and target acquisition. Systems for nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) defence, along with automated fire-fighting and damage control, further improve survivability.

Crew, deployment, and motto

The vessel is manned by 26 officers and about 250 sailors. It operates under the motto “Sarvatra Sarvada Vijaya” (Victory always everywhere), aligning with the Navy’s larger goal: “Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Ready Force Safeguarding National Maritime Interests – Anytime, Anywhere.”

Following the December 2024 commissioning of sister ship INS Tushil, INS Tamal will now be part of the Western Fleet, known as ‘The Sword Arm’ of the Indian Navy. The ship is expected to make several port visits as it sails to Karwar in Karnataka.