Article Posted on : - Jul 12, 2011

Three Talwar class guided missile frigates are being built in Russia's Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma has embarked on a six-day visit to Russia where he would visit facilities to take stock of major Indian naval projects underway in that country.

"Besides visiting the headquarters of Russian naval fleets, the Navy Chief would go to Sevmash shipyard to see the progress made in INS Vikramaditya project. He would also go to Vladivostok where the MiG-29K project is based," Navy officials said here.

Admiral Verma would also visit the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad where the follow-up of Talwar class project is going on, officials said.

During the tour, Verma will visit Russian Navy's Headquarters and would call on the commanders of Pacific fleet based in Vladivostok, North Sea fleet and White Sea base.

Verma will also check the progress made in basin trials of INS Vikramaditya which would be commissioned into Indian Navy by the end of 2012.

"During the basin trials, all the systems and machines in a ship are operated and their performance is checked in a confined area," added the officials.

Looking forward to operating a three-carrier fleet by the end of this decade, the 40,000 tonne and 283-metre long INS Vikramaditya would fill a big gap in Indian Navy's strength which is currently working with its sole aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

MiG-29 K programme had suffered a jolt when one of the aircraft crashed on June 23, killing both its pilots in Russia.

The Russian-built MiG-29 K is operated only by the Indian Navy and is located in Goa naval base.