Article Posted on : - Aug 11, 2010

INS Trishul (on top) with Russian warship Pyotr Veliky. A file photo.

NEW DELHI (BNS): Indian Talwar class missile frigate INS Trishul and Russian Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser will conduct a joint naval exercise PASSEX in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday, a media report said.

According to RIA Novosti, both ships will practice joint manoeuvring and carry out several communications drills during the exercise.

The Pyotr Veliky warship is returning to its home base in the Barents Sea from large-scale naval drills in the Pacific Ocean. It docked at the Mormugao port of Goa on August 6th to replenish water and food supplies.

INS Trishul is armed with an eight-cell 3S14E vertical missile launcher for 3M-54E Klub-N anti-ship missiles and Shtil-1 medium-range surface-to-air missile system.

The Russian cruiser have 20 SS-N-19 Shipwreck missiles, designed to engage large surface targets, and air defence is provided by 12 SA-NX-20 Gargoyle launchers with 96 missiles and 2 SA-N-4 Gecko with 44 missiles.

Earlier in 2009, the Russian cruiser had visited Mormugao to take part in joint anti-piracy naval drills with Indian Navy called ‘INDRA-2009’.