INS Tarkash (F50), passing the O2 in London in May 2017
History
India
Name	INS Tarkash
Namesake	Quiver
Ordered	14 July 2007[1]
Builder	Yantar Shipyard
Launched	23 June 2010
Commissioned	9 November 2012
Homeport	Mumbai
Status	in active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Talwar-class frigate
Displacement	3,620 long tons (3,678 t) standard 4,035 long tons (4,100 t) full load
Length	124.8 m (409 ft 5 in)
Beam	15.2 m (49 ft 10 in)
Draught	4.5 m (14 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	2 × DS-71 cruise turbines (9,000 shp))[2] 2 × DT-59 boost turbines (19,500 shp)[2]
Speed	30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	4,850 nmi (8,980 km; 5,580 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) 1,600 nmi (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement	300 (40 officers)
Armament	Anti-air missiles: 24 × Shtil-1 medium range missiles 8 × Igla-1E (SA-16) Anti-ship/Land-attack missiles: 8 × VLS launched BrahMos supersonic, anti-ship cruise missiles Guns: 1 × 100 mm A-190E, naval gun 2 × AK-630 CIWS Anti-submarine warfare: 2 × 2 533 mm torpedo tubes 1 × RBU-6000 (RPK-8) rocket launcher
Aircraft carried	1 × Ka-28 Helix-A, Ka-31 Helix B or HAL Dhruv helicopter

INS Tarkash (F50) is the second Talwar-class frigate constructed for the Indian Navy. She is part of the second batch of Talwar-class frigates ordered by the Indian Navy. She was built at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. She was commissioned to Navy service on 9 November 2012 at Kaliningrad and joined the Western Naval Command on 27 December 2012.^[3][4]

Design

Tarkash belongs to the second flight (F45, F50, F51) of Talwar class of guided missile frigates. These are modified Krivak III-class frigates built by Russia. These ships use stealth technologies and a special hull design to ensure a reduced radar cross section. Much of the equipment on the ship is Russian-made, but a significant number of systems of Indian origin have also been incorporated. The main difference between Tarkash and the earlier flight of Talwar-class ships (F40, F43, F44) is the use of BrahMos missiles in place of the Klub-N missiles in the earlier ships.^{[citation needed]} It is the second of the three frigates built in Russia as a follow-up order to the first batch of Talwar-class frigates.

Construction

Tarkash was launched on 23 June 2010 at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.^{[citation needed]} Her delivery was delayed from the original goal of October 2011 due to labour shortages and delays in equipment deliveries.^{[citation needed]} She departed the Yantar shipyard on 24 May 2012 to begin her sea trials. The sea trials were successfully completed in the month of August 2012.^[5]

On 9 November 2012, Tarkash was handed over to the Indian Navy by Yantar Shipyard.^[6][7] She joined the Western Naval Command on 27 December 2012.^[8]

Operations

Operation Raahat

In March 2015, Tarkash was deployed with INS Mumbai and INS Sumitra as part of Operation Raahat to provide protection and support to Indian ships and aircraft involved in the evacuation of Indian citizens from Yemen during the military intervention.^[9]

Gallery