Contract for Two New Frigates Signed with Goa Shipyard
The two Talwar-class warships will be constructed with technological assistance from Russia and will be armed with BrahMos missiles and other advanced weapons
The government of India on 30 January 2019 concluded a contract with Goa Shipyard Limited to build two Russian-designed Project 1135.6 follow-on ships in India. The two Talwar class warships to be constructed with partial transfer of technology from Russia are scheduled to be delivered to the Indian Navy in June 2026 and December 2026, respectively.
“An Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between the Government of India and Government of Russian Federation was concluded on 15 October 2016, for construction of additional Project 1135.6 follow-on ships in India, at M/s Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). In line with the IGA, the government signed a contract for construction of two ships with Goa Shipyard Ltd,” a press release by the government said.
The follow-on Project 1135.6 series of frigates, customised to meet the Indian Navy’s specific requirements, are potent platforms, with a mission span covering the entire spectrum of naval warfare; air, surface and sub-surface. The ships would be equipped to operate in littoral and blue waters; both as a single unit and as consorts of a naval task force. Advanced features of stealth include a special hull design, to limit radar cross-section, low electromagnetic, infrared and under water noise signatures.
The ships would carry highly sophisticated and state-of-the-art weapon systems and sensors. To support these ships through their life cycle, the Indian Navy has put in place requisite infrastructures for training and maintenance.
Importantly, in line with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, these ships being constructed at M/s GSL, Goa under Russian assistance, would make these platforms the largest number of ships of a class in service showcasing indigenous equipment such as sonar system, BrahMos missile system, Combat Management System, etc.
Also, India signed a contract with Russia for acquiring two stealth guided-missile frigates of Admiral Grigorovich-class (Project 11356) for USD 950 million in October 2018. The two frigates of the Project 11356 class will be bought directly from Russia, from the Yantar shipyard at Kaliningrad. Currently, the Indian Navy operates six of the Talwar-class frigates. The new frigates are expected to add more strength to the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean Region.