Russian-built INS Teg commissioned

The Talwar-class (Krivak-III) frigate, Teg, will be commissioned into the the Indian Navy at Yantar shipyard at St. Petersberg by Vice Admiral K.N. Sushil on Friday. This will be commanded  by Captain Rakesh Kumar Dahiya. It will be the first stealth frigate to be equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. These missiles have so far been fitted on Rajput class destroyers.

Genesis of Teg

Teg is an ancient word meaning a short, single–edged curved sword, broadest at the handle, traditionally used by the Sikhs who are famous for their valour and martial skills in the battlefield. A ‘Teg’ has been wielded by many a brave warrior in righteous battle to overcome the oppressors and safeguard the weak.

Symbolically, ‘Teg’ is a weapon which strikes at the very roots of Agyan or Avidya (lack of knowledge), and brings forth enlightenment, independence and reform. In a broader connotation, Teg stands for chastisement of all that is evil and protection of good.

The ship’s crest embodies two crossed swords against the blue sky and ocean waves which symbolise Strength, Responsibility and Commitment to a righteous cause.

The ship’s motto ‘Towards Eternal Glory ’ ‘अभिमुखम  अनन्त यशम’ truly reflects the indomitable spirit of the ship and her crew, the will to fight for what is honest and truthful, and to surmount the most challenging odds in pursuit of Victory

A legend is born

INS Teg, a Follow-On Project 1135.6 Class of Frigate, is a modern and contemporary Warship with advanced technologies incorporated in every facet of design to make her stable, stealthy, fast and formidable. A versatile and capable vessel, she is an icon of Indo-Russian Military co-operation and heralds a new dimension in this strategic partnership.

The Teg class of ships have been built to meet the specific Command and Control needs of the Indian Navy for co-ordinated Surface, Air and Underwater missions.

An advanced version of the Talwar class guided missile frigates already in service with the Indian Navy, these ships have been fitted out with an upgraded multi-role combat suite to make them one of the most potent platforms of the Navy.

Weapon compliment

The weapons suite of the ship includes Surface-to-Air and Surface-to-Surface missile systems, 100 mm medium range gun, Close-in Weapon System, Torpedo tubes and Anti-Submarine rockets.

The ‘BrahMos’ Surface-to-Surface missile system, a joint venture between India and Russia, is capable of engaging targets at extended ranges at supersonic speeds and is perhaps the best missile in its class.

The ship also embarks and operates an anti-submarine or an airborne early warning helicopter– a dominant force multiplier.

With its advanced weapons suite and sensors fully integrated with its Combat Management System, the ship is equipped to augment the Indian Navy’s Net Centric capability, and is well suited to undertake a broad spectrum of maritime missions, from traditional military roles to those involving low intensity maritime operations and crisis management.

To meet the paramount need for stealth in the current combat environment, Teg incorporates innovative stealth technologies to reduce her radar cross section, infrared and magnetic signatures, as well as radiated underwater noise.

Propulsion and Damage Control

The ship is powered by an advanced gas turbine propulsion plant (COGAG – Combined Gas And Gas) with state of the art Controls, delivering 56,000 hp of power to attain speeds in excess of 30 knots.

The unique design of the propulsion plant enables the warship to seamlessly change over propulsion modes in different operational regimes. The automated power generation and auxiliary machinery control systems installed on the ship further augment the fighting efficiency of the ship.

The ship has been equipped with complex automated systems for nuclear, biological and chemical defence, damage control and fire fighting that can be operated centrally from sheltered posts to minimize casualties and achieve rapid restoration of combat effectiveness.

The Crew

The heart and soul of the ship and the driving power into any battle are the men onboard the ship. Teg is manned by a crew of 24 officers and 229 sailors. It would be interesting to note that the individual crew members speak 15 different languages as their 'mother tongue' and follow six different religious faiths - A true microcosm of the diversity, and unity of India.

The Crew of the ship, hand-picked from various ships and establishments of the Navy, and trained extensively both in India and Russia, consider it their proud privilege to commission the country’s newest Warship and sail her back to India. While many future crews will man the ship in her long service life, the commissioning crew will always have a unique place in her history.

Captain of the ship

The ship is commanded by Captain Rakesh Kumar Dahiya, a 'Communication and Electronic Warfare' specialist, who was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1987. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, Captain Dahiya has undergone various courses in India and abroad including the Higher Command Course at the National Institute of Defence Studies, Tokyo, Japan. He has held various important afloat and staff appointments including tenures as Joint Director of Personnel at the Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and Officer-in-Charge, Operational Sea Training, Mumbai. He has commanded two ships prior being selected to command INS Teg as her first Captain.