Russia Delivers Second Stealth Frigate To Indian Navy

The Indian Navy will today induct the second of three stealth frigates built by Russia at the Yantar Shipyard in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad. Sergei Mikhailov, a spokesman for the Yantar Shipyard, the solemn ceremony of delivering the warship will be held in Kaliningrad and be attended by high-ranking military officers both from Russia and India. In 2006, the two countries signed a $1.6 billion contract for the construction of three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates for India. INS Teg, the first frigate, was inducted earlier this year. And the last ship is current undergoing trials and will join the navy next year. The Russian-made frigates will be equipped with eight supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles, 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 antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter. Russia previously built three Talwar class frigates for India - INS Talwar (Sword), INS Trishul (Trident), and INS Tabar (Axe).