A significant chapter in India’s defence history quietly came to a close this week. In Kaliningrad, Russia, the Indian Navy commissioned INS Tamal, a stealth frigate of the Talwar-class. Though powerful and well-equipped, what makes this ship stand out isn’t just its combat capabilities; it’s what it represents.
INS Tamal will be the last warship that India imports from another country. From now on, all major warships joining the Indian Navy will be designed and built at home. That simple shift carries a powerful message: India is no longer just a buyer of military strength. It is a builder.
From Dependence to Confidence
For decades, India relied heavily on other countries for critical military hardware. The Navy, in particular, had to look abroad for warships, whether from the UK, the Soviet Union, Russia, or Italy. This was understandable in the early years after independence when India lacked both industrial capacity and technical knowledge to build sophisticated naval platforms.
But over the past few decades, that picture has steadily changed. What began with basic patrol vessels evolved into a full-fledged shipbuilding ecosystem involving public and private players, supported by homegrown design expertise. Today, more than 90% of Indian Navy ships are built in India, a far cry from the reliance of the past.
INS Tamal, and its sister ship INS Tushil commissioned last month, are the final imports in this long transition. Built at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard under an intergovernmental agreement, these two Krivak-III class frigates are equipped with advanced sensors, weapon systems, and stealth features. But going forward, India no longer plans to source complete warships from abroad; a policy shift that has been years in the making and now, finally, a reality.
What Makes INS Tamal Special
INS Tamal is a versatile, multi-role frigate. Measuring 124.8 metres in length and displacing around 4,035 tonnes, it can reach speeds of up to 30 knots (56 km/h). With an operational range of over 10,000 kilometres, it is capable of extended deployments across the Indian Ocean Region. The ship is equipped with a formidable mix of weapons: 24 surface-to-air missiles in vertical launchers, the A-190 100mm main gun, AK-630 close-in weapon systems, heavyweight torpedoes, and the RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher.
Its electronic warfare suite, advanced radar systems (including Fregat and Positive-M radars), and automated damage control systems make it a modern, survivable warship. It also features stealth characteristics designed to reduce its radar and visual signature. It can carry and operate anti-submarine helicopters like the Kamov Ka-28 or Ka-31, extending its surveillance and strike range.
Despite being foreign built, the Indian Navy has ensured these ships fit into its existing systems and doctrine. But the fact remains- future ships will not need to be bought from abroad because India is now confident in building them itself.
A Long Journey of Indigenous Naval Design
India’s march toward self-reliance in shipbuilding didn’t begin overnight. The journey began as early as 1961 with the commissioning of INS Ajay, the country’s first indigenously built patrol boat. It took decades of gradual growth, trial and error, and collaboration, both domestic and international to scale up capabilities.
In 1956, the Navy established the Directorate of Naval Design (DND), which became the backbone of India’s indigenous ship design programme. By the 1990s, India had built its first indigenous destroyer, INS Delhi, and was actively partnering with global shipbuilders not just to buy, but to learn.
The 2000s saw a deeper shift. Under projects like Project 17 (frigates), Project 28 (ASW corvettes), and Project 15A/15B (destroyers), India began designing and building increasingly complex platforms at home. Shipyards like Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Goa Shipyard Ltd, and Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) became central players.
As of 2024, 67 Indian-built warships are under construction, including next-generation stealth frigates, missile vessels, offshore patrol vessels, and aircraft carriers.
The Modi Government’s Role: Policy Backed by Purpose
While the Navy has long championed indigenisation, the push gained significant momentum in the past decade. Since 2014, the Modi government has made domestic defence production a strategic priority. The Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) campaign, launched in 2020, gave shape and direction to what had been a slow and steady process.
Key policy shifts including the ban on imports of over 400 defence items, new defence acquisition procedures, and incentives for private manufacturers gave the industry the push it needed. The Navy, already ahead of the curve, used this opportunity to double down on Indian shipbuilding.
The result is visible. India is no longer just building warships for itself, it is exporting them, too. Indian-built offshore patrol vessels, missile boats, and interceptor crafts have been delivered to countries like Mauritius, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, and the UAE. Defence exports touched a record high of ₹21,000 crore in 2023–24, and naval platforms are emerging as a key export category.
What Comes After Tamal? A Fully Indigenous Fleet
With INS Tamal, a long chapter of external dependence ends. But the future promises much more. India is now working on Next Generation Corvette, Next Generation Missile Vessel, and Multi-Purpose Support Vessel programmes- all underpinned by domestic design.
Another Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-2) is in the pipeline, and newer classes of stealth destroyers and submarines are on the horizon. Indian shipyards, both public and private are now designing and manufacturing world-class platforms. The goal: a 100% indigenous Navy by 2047, in time for India’s centenary of independence.
A Symbol of How Far India Has Come
In the end, INS Tamal will serve its purpose at sea; patrolling waters, protecting trade routes, and deterring threats. But its legacy is far greater. It stands as a marker in India’s journey from buyer to builder, a reminder that long-term vision, institutional commitment, and political will can come together to change the course of a sector.
As it sails home to Karwar later this year, Tamal won’t just be another ship in India’s naval arsenal. It will be a floating reminder that India’s shipbuilding future lies not in distant ports, but in its own hands.
