Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Moscow on Sunday for an official visit aimed at strengthening defence cooperation between India and Russia.
During his stay, Singh will participate in the commissioning ceremony of the stealth-guided missile frigate INS Tushil into the Indian Navy. He will also attend the 21st meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC).
Singh was welcomed late Sunday night by Indian Ambassador to Russia Venkatesh Kumar and Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.
During the visit, Singh will pay homage at Moscow’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honoring Soviet soldiers who lost their lives in World War II. He is also set to engage with members of the Indian community in Russia, fostering bilateral cultural ties.
A major highlight of the visit is Singh’s scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Additionally, he will co-chair the IRIGC-M&MTC meeting alongside Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, furthering India-Russia cooperation in military and technical domains.
Sharing the visit details on X, the Embassy of India in Russia wrote, “Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh was received by Ambassador @vkumar1969 and Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Alexander Fomin in Moscow.”
Singh’s participation in the commissioning of INS Tushil—a multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate—underscores the growing maritime collaboration between India and Russia.
In a post prior to his departure, Singh expressed enthusiasm for the visit, saying, “Tomorrow, 08th December, I shall be reaching Moscow in Russia to attend the 21st meeting of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation. Also, I shall be attending the commissioning ceremony of Indian Navy’s latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate ‘INS Tushil.’ Looking forward to it.”
The name Tushil translates to “protector shield,” and its crest symbolizes the ‘Abhedya Kavacham’ (Impenetrable Shield). Alongside its motto—Nirbhay, Abhedya aur Balsheel (Fearless, Indomitable, Resolute)—the frigate reflects the Indian Navy’s dedication to safeguarding the nation’s maritime frontiers.
The ship features an indigenous content of 26%, a significant enhancement over earlier models, with the number of Indian-made systems doubling to 33. Collaborators include BrahMos Aerospace, Bharat Electronics Limited, Keltron, Nova Integrated Systems (Tata), Elcome Marine, and Johnson Controls India, among others.
Upon commissioning, INS Tushil will join the Western Fleet, the “Sword Arm” of the Indian Navy, under the Western Naval Command, ranking among the most technologically advanced frigates in the world.
(Inputs from ANI)
