In a post on X, the Indian High Commission announced, “@HCI_London welcomes INS Tushil! London is the first port of call for Indian Navy’s latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate INS Tushil on her maiden operational deployment.” The vessel was commissioned on December 9, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attending the ceremony.

INS Tushil, the upgraded Krivak III class frigate of Project 1135.6, is the seventh ship in the series. It joins six other ships already in service, including three Talwar-class ships, built at the Baltisky shipyard in St. Petersburg, and three follow-on Teg-class ships, built at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad. The Indian Navy’s newest addition is the first of two upgraded follow-on ships, with the contract signed in October 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Government.

The ship’s construction was closely monitored by an Indian team stationed at Kaliningrad under the guidance of the Indian Embassy in Moscow. Prior to arriving in London, INS Tushil departed from Kaliningrad on December 17. During its maiden operational deployment, the ship will carry out joint maritime exercises and patrolling with the navies of friendly countries, including operations in piracy-prone regions.

The first port call to London comes shortly after the second India-UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue held in New Delhi on December 3. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the dialogue provided an opportunity to discuss the entire scope of the India-UK comprehensive Strategic Partnership, emphasizing high-level engagement to advance the dynamic relationship between the two nations. Both sides reaffirmed their shared vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

In Parliament, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh highlighted that the India-UK bilateral partnership was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2021, supported by a ten-year roadmap covering sectors like trade, defense, security, technology, and innovation. The port call of INS Tushil is seen as a significant step forward in strengthening maritime defense cooperation between India and the United Kingdom.

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