Russia launches Indian Navy’s third missile frigate

KALININGRAD (BNS): Indian Navy's third and final Talwar-class guided missile frigate, INS Trikand, has been floated out at Russia's Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad on Wednesday.

The new frigate, being built under project 11356, was launched in the presence of Indian and Russian government and defence officials.

With almost sixty percent of the warship's construction work over, including its weapons complex, it will now enter the final stage of production, the shipyard said.

Yantar shipyard started mooring trials of the first Indian frigate

Mooring trials of the first Indian frigate started  at Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad). All shipborne systems will be tested during a 2-month stay at the shipyard quay. 

The ship announced her birth with a loud siren. First tentatively nodding and then self-confidently bowing barrels of AK-630 rapid-fire gun, the ship complimented her creators. Although mooring trials is not a sortie yet, but almost all workers of assembling shop came to watch the ship's first moves. 

First frigate built for India to start trials in Feb-March

First of three frigates built for Indian Navy by Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) will be ready for trials in Feb-March 2011, said today Sivathanu Pillai, the executive director of Russian-Indian joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace. 

One ship has been fully equipped; the second one will be also completed in Feb-March, he said. 

According to Mr. Pillai, the shipyard conducts final works to prepare the frigate for trials. He also said that the new ships could launch BrahMos missiles both in the Baltic Sea and in the Indian Ocean when the first frigate arrives there from Russia. This issue is at the Russian Navy's option, said the executive director. 

India will get frigates on time, all problems are resolvable – an official

Despite some difficulties, frigates built in Kaliningrad for Indian Navy will be delivered to the customer on terms specified in the contract, reported ITAR-TASS citing Alexander Fomin, deputy director of Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) appearing today at the Aero India 2011 international exhibition in Bangalore. 

"The works go on; two ships have been already launched and the third one is being prepared for launching. Of course, there are some minor problems, but we handle them", Fomin said. 

The $1.6 bln shipbuilding contract was tied with India in summer 2006. It is planned to deliver frigates to the customer in 2011-2012. First three Project 1135.6 frigates cost India over $1 bln and were built by Baltiysky Zavod. Ships were delivered in 2003-2004, one year behind the schedule. 

Yantar shipyard to complete landing ship Ivan Gren in 2012

Yantar Shipyard (Kaliningrad) plans to deliver Project 11711 large landing ship Ivan Gren to Russian Navy in 2012, reports press service of JSCArmalit-1 which produces pipeline accessories for the ship. As for now, 89 per cent items have been already supplied in accordance with the contract, says the press release. The ship's completion will last throughout 2011. 

The ship is designed for landing operations, transportation of combat vehicles and equipment. Ivan Gren is capable to carry 13 main battle tanks (up to 60 tons each), or armored personnel carriers/infantry fighting vehicles (up to 36), or 300 marines. 

JSC Armalit-1 produces shipborne fittings and offer mechanical treatment services.

Yantar shipyard launches Indian frigate in March

Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad, Russia) plans to launch third frigate [last in series] for Indian Navy in mid-March, reported yesterday RIA Novosticiting Sergei Mikhailov, the shipyard's press secretary. 

"Technically, the ship is being prepared for launching in mid-March; this is the last of three ships of 'Indian' project 11356, she is called Trikand which means "Bow", said Mikhailov. 

Yantar has been building second series of frigates [in Russian classification – escort ships] for Indian Navy since 2006. First two ships – Teg ("Saber") and Tarkash ("Quiver") – have been already launched.