Blitz Bureau
INS Tushil, the latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Russia on December 9. Singh described the commissioning of the ship as a proud testament to the country’s growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in the longstanding friendship between India and Russia.
He termed Russia’s support to India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat as another important example of deep friendship between the two countries. He underlined that made in India content is continuously increasing in many ships, including INS Tushil. He said that the ship is a big proof of the collaborative prowess of Russian and Indian industries.
Highlighting the deep ties between the Navies of India and Russia, Singh emphasised that technical and operational collaboration is constantly touching new heights under the holistically growing relations between both countries. He said that India, along with its friendly countries, believes in ensuring that maritime trade in the region remains safe and secure, thereby promoting unhindered trade across the sea. Reiterating the Indian Navy’s commitment to realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), Singh termed the vision as the backbone of the country’s maritime policy.
He said that SAGAR is a symbol of the country’s commitment towards collective security, maritime cooperation and sustainable development. He further added that in this commitment, India has always received Russia’s support.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi congratulated all those involved in the project, especially the shipyard workers and all Russian and Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers for their exceptional work, flawless integration of Indian systems with Russian systems and contribution to the quality capability upgrades achieved in this project.
The event was also attended by Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin, Governor of Kaliningrad Alexey Sergeyevich Besprozvannykh and other senior officials from the Indian and Russian Governments, Navies, and industries.
