As part of its diplomatic and operational mission aimed at consolidating naval relations between India and Morocco, the multi-role stealth frigate with guided missiles INS Tushil, recently commissioned into the Indian Navy, docked in Casablanca , strategic maritime crossroads between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Over the past twelve months, Casablanca has already hosted three Indian warships — INS Tabar, INS Tarkash and INS Sumedha — endorsing mutual trust and growing interoperability between the navies of the two countries.
The multi-role stealth frigate with guided missiles INS Tushil, recently commissioned into the Indian Navy, docked in recent hours at the port of Casablanca. This highly technical and diplomatic stopover illustrates a deepening of bilateral relations between India and Morocco, a strategic partner with coastlines stretching across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
INS Tushil, based on the advanced platform of modified Talwar-class frigates, is equipped with the latest technologies in stealth and electronic warfare. This ship, built within the framework of Indo-Russian cooperation and equipped with BrahMos systems for long-range precision strikes, also has active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and Shtil-1 air defense systems, capable of tracking and to simultaneously intercept multiple targets at high speed.
Its propulsion is provided by a COGAG system allowing it to reach speeds of more than 30 knots, with a range of 4,500 nautical miles. This deployment to Casablanca marks one of the first operational demonstrations of its capabilities in Atlantic waters, a distant but strategic theater for India.
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During this two-day stopover, on-board engineers and technical officers from INS Tushil will conduct joint workshops with their Moroccan counterparts on advanced navigation systems and maritime sensor integration. The discussions will also include discussions on the use of underwater drones for coastal surveillance, an emerging technology that India is increasingly mastering.
A passage at sea exercise (PASSEX) will be carried out with the Royal Moroccan Navy, which will integrate interception simulations, anti-submarine maneuvers using low frequency sonars and exercises to combat asymmetric threats such as marine drones .
This stopover is part of a broader approach intended to include the Atlantic in India’s maritime strategy, traditionally focused on the Indian Ocean. In 2023, India integrated Atlantic missions into its Maritime Security Initiative, in cooperation with African and European nations. Morocco, thanks to its strategic port of Tangier Med and its ambitions in global maritime trade, constitutes an essential anchor point in this strategy.
The deployment of INS Tushil also embodies India’s growing role in multinational operations. Indeed, the ship was recently integrated into the trilateral Cutlass Express exercise, held off the coast of Africa, and served as a platform to test advanced maritime security solutions, including autonomous port surveillance systems. .
In addition to the military dimensions, this visit aims to support the economic ambitions of the two countries within the framework of their maritime cooperation. India and Morocco share a growing interest in protecting critical submarine cables linking Europe, Africa and Asia. Strengthening naval ties could also open opportunities for Indian companies in the development of Moroccan port infrastructure, particularly in the industrial zones around Tanger Med.
This maritime partnership, which joins many others and which combines technical, strategic and economic dimensions, promises to define an even more prolific framework of cooperation for the years to come.
