Russia set to deliver another missile frigate to India

Kaliningrad, Nov 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The second of three stealth frigates that Russia is building for India at the Yantar Shipyard in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad will be handed over on Friday.

Shipyard spokesman Sergei Mikhailov said the solemn ceremony for delivering the warship will be attended by high-ranking Russian and India military officers.

Russia and India signed a $1.6 billion contract for constructing three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates in 2006. The first frigate, INS Teg, was inducted into the Indian Navy on April 27.

The third frigate, INS Trikand, is currently undergoing dock trials and will be inducted into the Indian Navy in the summer of 2013 after completes sea trials in the Baltic.

The new frigates are armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. They are also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defense gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter.

Russia has previously built three Talwar class frigates for India – INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar.

—IANS/RIA Novosti

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IANS 2012-11-09 12:20:18