KALININGRAD, November 10 (RIA Novosti) - The Yantar shipyard in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad is planning to float out the first of the three frigates being built for the Indian Navy at the end of November, a company spokesman said Tuesday.
Russia is building three Project 11356 modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates for the Indian Navy under a $1.6 billion contract signed in July, 2006.
"The first frigate in the series is expected to float out at the end of November," Sergei Mikhailov said.
"Floating out does not mean that the sea trials will start right away. We still have to carry out post-construction work. The trials will start in 2010," he added.
Mikhailov reaffirmed that the shipyard should be able to deliver all three vessels to the customer in 2011-2012.
The Talwar class frigate has a 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.
Russia has previously built three Talwar class frigates for India - INS Talwar (from the Hindi language meaning Sword), INS Trishul (Trident), and INS Tabar (Axe).
Indian President Pratibha Patil has named the new ships the Teg (Saber), the Tarkash (Quiver), and the Trikand (Bow).
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.
They will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil air defense system, two Kashtan air defense gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo tubes, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
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