Article Posted on : - Jun 01, 2009

Russian and Indian ships taking part in joint naval exercises. A File photo

MOSCOW (PTI): INS Beas, India's indigenously built Brahmaputra class missile frigate, armed with state-of- the-art weapons, including the Barak anti-missile battery will hold joint naval exercises with the Russian navy.

The naval ship will be on a five-day goodwill visit to Russian port city of St Petersburg on the Baltic Sea from June 3 to June 7 to be followed by two days of Joint Exercises (PASSEX) with the Russian Navy.

St. Petersburg (former Leningrad) has been the birthplace of Kilo class diesel-electric submarines and the latest Krivak class stealth frigates including INS Talwar and INS Trishul.

However, in Year of India in Russia, the Indian Navy is proudly showcasing INS Beas a Brahmaputra class guided missile frigate. The vessel has been indigenously designed and built and incorporate highly potent indigenous and foreign weapons.

Commanded by Capt S V Bhokare INS Beas has 'long legs' and is capable of covering over 4,500 nautical miles without replenishment, Indian Embassy website said.

Packed with latest sensors able to engage air, sea surface and underwater targets INS Beas has 16 Russian 'URAN' tactical surface-to-surfaces missiles with a range in excess of 130 km and Israeli Barak Anti Missile Defence system in its arsenals.