SOURCE: AFI
A promotional video for INS Tamal, the second ship of the Tushil-class frigates and an upgraded variant of the earlier Talwar- and Teg-class frigates, has highlighted the formidable capabilities of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Set to be commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 2025, the footage demonstrates the BrahMos striking warships from a near-impossible-to-intercept low altitude, skimming just 3-4 meters above the sea. This revelation underscores the missile’s strategic edge, making it a critical asset as the Navy bolsters its maritime dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.
INS Tamal, built at the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in collaboration with Russia’s Severnoye Design Bureau, represents a significant upgrade over the Talwar- and Teg-class frigates commissioned in the early 2000s. The Tushil-class frigates feature advanced stealth features, enhanced radar systems, and an expanded weapon suite, including the BrahMos missile, vertical launch systems for Barak-8 missiles, and upgraded anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The ship, with a displacement of approximately 4,000 tons, is designed for multi-role operations, including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.
The promotional video, released ahead of the commissioning ceremony, showcases INS Tamal’s sleek design and cutting-edge technology, reflecting India’s push for indigenous defense manufacturing under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. The vessel’s commissioning on July 1, 2025, at Goa will mark a milestone in the Navy’s modernization efforts, with the first Tushil-class ship, INS Tushil, commissioned in 2023.
The video’s highlight is the BrahMos missile, a joint Indo-Russian venture, demonstrating its ability to strike warships from a perilously low altitude. Footage shows the missile traveling at high speed, maintaining a height of 3-4 meters above the sea surface in its sea-skimming mode. This low trajectory, combined with its supersonic speed exceeding Mach 2.8 (approximately 3,400 km/h), renders it nearly impossible for most warship air defense systems to detect and intercept in time.
The BrahMos, an evolution of the Russian P-800 Oniks missile, is equipped with advanced guidance systems and can carry a 300-kg warhead. Its sea-skimming capability allows it to evade radar detection until the last moment, overwhelming defenses with its rapid approach. The video, reportedly filmed during a recent test off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, shows the missile striking a decommissioned target ship with precision, reinforcing its reputation as one of the world’s most lethal anti-ship weapons.
The demonstration comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the Indo-Pacific, particularly with China’s expanding naval presence. The Indian Navy’s focus on the BrahMos enhances its ability to counter adversary warships, including China’s Type 055 destroyers and Pakistan’s naval assets. The missile’s low-altitude flight path exploits a vulnerability in traditional air defense systems, which struggle to engage targets below 10 meters due to sea clutter interference.
INS Tamal’s integration of the BrahMos, alongside its advanced sensors and electronic warfare suite, positions it as a key deterrent in the region. The Navy plans to equip all Tushil-class frigates with the missile, with future upgrades exploring the BrahMos-II hypersonic variant, expected to enter service by 2028. This aligns with India’s strategy to maintain a credible second-strike capability and protect its maritime interests, including critical sea lanes in the Indian Ocean.
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