Indian Navy Bolsters Blue-Water Ambitions: INS Tamal Joins Fleet as SSN Construction Kicks Off
The Indian Navy marked a dual triumph on October 18, 2025, with the commissioning of INS Tamal—the second Talwar-class stealth frigate—and the ceremonial groundbreaking for two nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). These milestones amplify the Navy’s transition to a formidable blue-water force, safeguarding vital sea lanes amid rising Indo-Pacific contestations.
INS Tamal, an indigenous evolution of the Russian Talwar design, boasts advanced stealth features, vertical launch systems for BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles, and state-of-the-art sonar suites. Delivered ahead of schedule under Project 11356, it enhances the Navy’s surface strike capabilities, joining its sister ship INS Tushil in patrolling the Arabian Sea. Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff, emphasized its role in “multi-domain operations,” integrating unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for anti-submarine warfare.
Simultaneously, the SSN project—valued at ₹50,000 crore—initiates construction of two 6,000-tonne boats under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) program, powered by an 85 MW pressurized water reactor from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). Slated for induction by 2030, these submarines will extend India’s submerged endurance beyond 30 days, countering Chinese assertiveness in the Indian Ocean. DRDO’s contributions, including the AIP-proven land-based prototype from 2024, ensure stealthy, silent running.
With defence exports hitting ₹25,000 crore in FY25 and a projected budget surge to $415.9 billion by 2029, these assets align with the Navy’s 15-year Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR 2025). As the Yuan Wang 5 tracking ship resumes operations nearby, INS Tamal and the SSNs herald a self-reliant Navy ready to project power from Malacca to the Malabar Coast.
