New Delhi, December 20. INS Tushil, the latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, set sail from Kaliningrad, Russia, for India this week, marking the beginning of her maiden operational deployment.
The ship was built in Russia and commissioned on December 9 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
According to a statement issued by the Defence Ministry, the ship, which set sail on December 17, will traverse the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and finally, the Indian Ocean, making port calls at several friendly foreign countries along the way.
“The maiden deployment of INS Tushil would involve key charter of Indian Navy, namely, Diplomatic, military, and constabulary activities,” the statement reads. “The ship will carry out joint patrolling and maritime partnership exercises with a number of navies en route, including piracy hotspots in the region. During her port calls, the ship will undertake capability-building activities with host navies and hold interactions with senior military and government leadership. The port calls will also serve to engage with the Indian diaspora spread across the region.”
The Ministry further stated that the port calls and exercises are aimed at consolidating India’s maritime cooperation with littoral countries of the region and reinforcing Indian Navy’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding the seafaring community.
