On 22 March 2025, The second frigate of Project 1135.6 Additional Follow-on Ships, named ‘Tavasya,’ built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), was launched by Mrs. Neeta Seth in the presence of Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth and FOC-in-C West Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh at GSL, Goa. These Frigates are Follow-on of P1135.6 ships, which are now being constructed indigenously by Indian Shipyard.
Raksha Rajya Mantri further stressed that the successful localization of critical components such as the BrahMos missile system, torpedo launchers, sonar, and auxiliary control systems demonstrates the growing resilience of India’s shipbuilding ecosystem. “The launch of Tavasya is not just a step forward for the Indian Navy but a giant leap for India’s strategic defence ambitions,” he added.
With a displacement exceeding 3800 tons, ‘Tavasya’ is engineered to execute a diverse range of offensive and defensive operations, ensuring strategic dominance in the Indian Ocean Region. Equipped with advanced stealth features, high-endurance capabilities, and next-generation combat systems, the ship represents a significant boost to the operational might of the Indian Navy, the minister said. He reaffirmed India’s ambition to emerge as a global leader in warship exports, citing GSL’s pioneering role in defence exports and the Ministry of Defence’s vision to achieve ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
The ship has been named ‘Tavasya,’ after the mace of legendary warrior ‘Bhima’ from the ‘Mahabharata,’ representing the indomitable spirit and growing strength of the Indian Navy.
The contract for building two Project 1135.6 Follow-on frigates was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Goa Shipyard Limited on 25 Jan 19. The first ship, ‘Triput,’ was launched on 23 Jul 24. These ships are designed for surface, subsurface, and air combat operations. ‘Triput’ and ‘Tavasya’ are 124.8 m long and 15.2 m wide, with a draught of 4.5 m. The displacement is approximately 3600 tons with a maximum speed of 28 knots.
‘Triput’ and ‘Tavasya’ have a large percentage of indigenous origin equipment, weapons, and sensors, ensuring large-scale defence production by Indian manufacturing units generating employment and capability enhancement within the country. These ships are also equipped with stealth features, advanced weapons & sensors, and platform management systems.
All About Project 1135.6
Project 1135.6, also known as the Talwar-class frigate program, is a series of stealth-guided missile frigates designed and built for the Indian Navy, based on the Russian Krivak III-class (Project 1135) design. These frigates, developed by Russia’s Severnoye Design Bureau, have been adapted to meet India’s naval requirements and incorporate advanced weaponry and indigenous systems. The project reflects a long-standing collaboration between India and Russia, with some ships constructed in Russian shipyards and others built indigenously in India under technology transfer agreements.
The Indian Navy’s Project 1135.6 frigates have been delivered in multiple batches:
- Batch 1 (INS Talwar, Trishul, Tabar):
- Built by Baltiysky Zavod in St. Petersburg, Russia.
- Delivered between 2003 and 2004.
- Armed with 3M-54E Klub-N anti-ship missiles and Shtil-1 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).
- Batch 2 (INS Teg, Tarkash, Trikand):
- Constructed at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.
- Delivered between 2012 and 2013.
- Upgraded with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles replacing the Klub-N system, reflecting India’s push for advanced indigenous weaponry.
- Batch 3 (INS Tushil, Tamala):
- Built at Yantar Shipyard, Russia, based on the modernized Project 1135.6M design.
- INS Tushil was commissioned on December 9, 2024, while Tamala is under construction, expected to be delivered by mid-2025.
- These ships were originally intended for the Russian Navy (as Admiral Butakov and Admiral Istomin) but were transferred to India due to sanctions disrupting Ukraine-supplied gas turbines.
- Batch 4 (Triput, Tavasya):
- Being constructed indigenously at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in India under a 2016 deal with Russia for technology transfer.
- The first ship, Triput, was launched on July 24, 2024, with delivery scheduled for June 2026. The second ship’s keel was laid in June 2021, with delivery expected in December 2026.
- These frigates integrate “Make in India” subsystems like sonar and combat management systems, alongside BrahMos missiles.
Armament and Capabilities
The Talwar-class frigates are equipped with a mix of Russian and Indian weapon systems:
- Missiles: Early ships carried Klub-N anti-ship missiles, while later batches feature the BrahMos system (range: 290-500 km, speed: Mach 2.8). Air defense is provided by the Shtil-1 SAM system (upgraded to vertical launch in later batches) with a 50 km range.
- Guns: A 100mm A-190 naval gun (Batch 1 and 2) or a 76mm OTO Melara Super Rapid Gun Mount (being retrofitted on some ships). Close-in defense includes Kashtan systems (Batch 1) or AK-630 CIWS (Batch 2 onwards).
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): RBU-6000 rocket launchers, 533mm torpedo tubes, and a helicopter (typically Kamov Ka-27 or Ka-31) for ASW missions.
- Sensors: Advanced systems like the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR radar (planned for upgrades) and indigenous sonar enhance detection capabilities.
