JOIN USIn July 2006, New Delhi decided to purchase three Krivak class stealth frigates from Moscow under a Rs 5200 crore contract. The contract is actually a follow up order on three similar warships known as INS Talwar, Trishul and Tabar, which the Navy purchased in the 1990s at a cost of Rs 3800 crore.
The follow-on order is unlikely to meet its delivery schedule, a naval source said adding that the delay could be in the range of a few months. “INS Teg is unlikely to join the Navy this year,” he said.
The first ship in the follow-on contract INS Teg was launched in the water in November, 2009 followed by INS Tarkash, which was launched in June, 2010. The last one INS Trikhand was launched only in May, 2011.
Reviewing the delivery schedule of the stealth frigates is on the agenda of the Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma who had embarked on a six-day tour to Russia on Monday.
The frigates have been constructed to suit India's specific requirements and would contribute greatly to Indian Navy’s blue water ambition. The capability of these warships has been upgraded based on the Navy’s experience with three Talwar class ships.
The delay happened because of Moscow’s decision to shift the ship-building exercise to Yantar shipyard near Kaliningrad, sources said. Even though Yantar had built Krivak class ships in the past, there was a gap leading to a break in warship production. The three Talwar class ships were built at Sevmash shipyard.
During his tour, Verma will review the progress made in the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and MiG-29K projects so far. The carrier, rechristened as INS Vikramaditya, has started the “basin trial” and is likely to be delivered by the end of 2012.