The Indian Navy has commissioned the third and final Talwar-class warship, INS Trikand (F50), at Kaliningrad, Russia.
Launched in May 2011, INS Trikand underwent extensive acceptance trials in April and May 2013 in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, Russia.
In July 2006, a $1.6bn contract was awarded by the Indian Ministry of Defence to Russia to build three additional Project 1135.6 Talwar-class frigates, INS Teg (F45), INS Tarkash (F46) and INS Trikand (F50).
The three additional frigates will be deployed with existing warships in the same class, INS Talwar (sword), INS Trishul (trident) and INS Tabar (axe), to support Indian Navy operations.
Powered by combined gas turbine propulsion systems, the modified version of the Krivak III-class vessels are armed with a Brahmos missile system, Shtil-1 medium-range surface-to-air missile system, upgraded A190 medium range gun and electro-optical 30mm close-in weapon system.
The 126m-long ships equipped with anti-submarine weapons including torpedoes and rockets and an advanced electronic warfare system, can cruise at a maximum speed of 30k and can accommodate a crew of 313.
Capable of carrying an integrated Kamov 31 helicopter for airborne early warning roles, the ships of the class feature reduced signatures for radar, magnetic and acoustic.
The Yantar Shipyard-built vessels are also armed with eight twin 533mm DTA-53-11356 fixed torpedo tube launchers firing SET-65E/53-65KE torpedoes, as well as 12 barrel RBU-6000 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) rocket to fire 212mm 90R ASW rocket or RGB-60 depth charges.
INS Teg and INS Tarkash, the first and second ships of the class, were commissioned in 2012 and are currently deployed with the Indian Navy as part of the Western Fleet.
Image: Indian Navy’s Talwar-class ship INS Tabar at sea. Photo: courtesy of indiannavy.nic.in.
