Article Posted on : - Nov 11, 2009

The Talwar class guided missile frigates are modified from Krivak III class frigates of Russia. They are especially designed and built for Indian navy. With a displacement of 4,000 metric tons and a speed of 30 knots, the frigate is capable of accomplishing a wide scale of maritime missions, primarily hunting down and devastating large surface ships and submarines.

Russia is building three Project 11356 Krivak IV-class guided missile frigates (INS Teg (F45), INS Tarkash (F46), INS Trikand (F50)) for the Indian navy at the Yantar shipyard in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad under a $1.6 billion contract signed in July, 2006.

The frigate will be equipped with a RBU-6000 anti submarine rocket, Shtil-1 multi-channel medium-range surface-to-air missile system, a Kashtan ship defence system, two twin 533-mm torpedo tubes, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter and artillery system and Puma-Universal artillery system.

All of the new frigates will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles rather than 3M-54E Klub-N anti-ship missiles, which were installed on previous frigates.

Russia has previously built three Talwar class frigates for India - INS Talwar (Sword), INS Trishul (Trident), and INS Tabar (Axe).

INS Talwar
The first-of-the-class frigate, TALWAR (sword), was launched in May 2000 and its delivery was scheduled to India for May 2002 after running, state and acceptance trials. The Talwar, the first frigate of Project N11356, completed sea trials in the Baltic Sea on 29 May 2002. The vessel was built by the Baltiyskiy shipyard and ordered by the Indian navy. Indian Navy received the delivery on June 19, 2003 during a ceremony at St Petersburg.

INS Trishul
The second ship, TRISHUL (Trident), was launched in November 2000. The second vessel of the series was placed in the dock for painting of its hull on 7 May 2002. The frigate factory performance trials began in June 2002, for a mooring trial in September 2002. INS Trishul guided missile frigates joined the arsenal of Indian Navy in 2003.

INS Tabar
The ceremony of launching TABAR (Pole-axe), the third frigate for India took place in May 2001 at the Baltiisky (Baltic) shipyards. This frigate is from the series of patrol ships which are being built on order of the Indian Republic. The INS Tabar, the third frigate of the Talwar class, was launched at Petersberg in the presence of the Defence Secretary, Mr Yogendra Narain. It was commissioned in Indian navy on 19 April 2004.

-Courtsey:
Global Security Website