Russia may get additional orders for Krivak-class frigates from India
04 Feb 2009
Moscow: Russia and India are negotiating a contract for a new lot of Project 1135.6 Krivak IV-class frigates for the Indian Navy, the head of Russia's arms exporting agency, Rosoboronexport, said Wednesday.
Russia is already building three Project 1135.6 Krivak IV-class guided missile frigates for the Indian Navy at the Yantar shipyard in Russia's Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, under a $1.6 billion contract signed in July 2006.
"The contract deadlines are very tough and there were indeed some disruptions in the construction," Rosoboronexport's director general Anatoly Isaikin is quoted as saying in an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
"It took some time to deal with the problems. After additional work and testing were carried out, there were no complaints with regard to the frigate. Moreover, talks are being held for an additional order of this type of combat vessel," Isaikin said.
"In terms of firepower it [Krivak IV class frigate] has no rivals in the world in its class," Isaikin said.
Isaikin also said most of the problems were related to advanced weaponry and electronics installed on the frigates to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy.
He pointed out that a delegation of Indian Navy officials, led by India's deputy chief of the naval staff, Vice Adm. Raman P Suthan, visited the Yantar shipyard in October last year and expressed satisfaction with the pace and the quality of the construction.
Russia has previously delivered three Krivak III-class frigates - INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar. These deliveries were completed in late 2004.
The final vessel of the current lot is due for delivery to India by 2011-12. All the frigates will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile systems and not the Club-N/3M54TE missile system installed on the Talwar-class.
The Krivak-class frigate has deadweight of 4,000 metric tons and a speed of 30 knots, and is capable of accomplishing a wide range of maritime missions, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines.