Article Posted on : - Mar 01, 2012

A file photo.

KALININGRAD (BNS): Russia's Yantar shipyard on Wednesday began construction of a new Krivak IV class frigate for the Russian Navy under Project 11356.

The new frigate, named Admiral Makarov, is the last in a series of three frigates the shipyard is building under a contract with the Russian Defence Ministry, Ria Novosti said.

The first two ships of the series -- Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen -- are at different stages of completion.

All three frigates are expected to be delivered to the Russian Navy in 2013-2014.

The Yantar Shipyard, which was contracted in 2010 to build the three ships for the Russian Navy, received another contract later in 2011 to build three more such ships for the Navy.

The new ships are expected be delivered to the Russian Navy in 2016.

A Krivak IV class frigate is equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil medium-range air defence system, Club-N supersonic anti-ship missiles, two Kashtan point defence systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter.

The Yantar shipyard is also building three similar guided missile frigates for the Indian Navy under Project 11356.

The warships, which will be armed with BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile systems, are slated to be handed over to India this year.