Article Posted on : - Apr 06, 2012

A Nanuchka II class corvette.

MOSCOW (BNS): A Russian shipyard has signed a contract to upgrade two warships of the Algerian Navy.

The St. Petersburg-based Severnaya Verf shipyard has inked the deal to modernise a Nanuchka II class corvette and a Koni II class frigate for the Algerian Navy, Ria Novosti reported on April 5.

The two warships, built by Russia, have been in service with the Algerian Navy since the 1980s.

"The contract has been signed in the framework of an agreement between (Russian state-run arms exporter) Rosoboronexport and the Algerian Defense Ministry," the news report said quoting a company statement.

The latest deal is part of an original contract inked in 2007 under which Russia was to refurbish three warships of each class. It delivered the first pair, a Nanushka II class corvette and a Koni II class frigate, to Algeria in February, 2011.

The second pair of warships is being modernised at Severnaya Verf under a 2008 contract. "The vessels will sail for sea trials in June, and will be delivered to the customer in July," the shipyard said.