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Wednesday, June 18, 2003

INS Talwar commissioned in St Petersburg

Press Trust of India
St. Petersburg, June 18

Indian Navy on Wednesday entered the stealth warfare era with the induction
of the first of the three Krivak class stealth warships 'INS Talwar' by the
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Madhvendra Singh here.

Commissioning the frigate at a colourful ceremony in the presence of India's
Ambassador to Moscow Krishnan Raghunath and Chief of Russian Naval Staff
Admiral Kuroyedev, Singh declared that the Talwar will be the sharpest sword
of the Indian Navy.

He said the commissioning represented the beginning of a new era of joint
production of naval equipment by India and Russia.

The induction of Talwar ended months of suspense over the delivery of these
ships. The three warships were to be inducted in the Indian Navy almost 18
months ago but this delivery was delayed as Indian Navy refused to take
possession of the warships after one its main armament, surface-to-air
Shipil missile failed during test flight.

India had signed a $900 million deal with Russia in 1997 for acquisition of
three Krivak-class stealth frigates from Russia.

The Krivak class warship would give Indian Navy a greater punch in the high
seas as they are equipped with surface-to-air, ship-to-ship and ship-to-land
missiles.

The Indian Navy is the first Navy after the Russian Navy to induct the
stealth class warships, which would later be modified to be equipped with
supersonic cruise missiles, BrahMos.

The second frigate, INS Trishul will be commissioned here on June 25 by
Defence Minister George Fernandes.

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