India will get frigates on time, all problems are resolvable – an official

Despite some difficulties, frigates built in Kaliningrad for Indian Navy will be delivered to the customer on terms specified in the contract, reported ITAR-TASS citing Alexander Fomin, deputy director of Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) appearing today at the Aero India 2011 international exhibition in Bangalore. 

"The works go on; two ships have been already launched and the third one is being prepared for launching. Of course, there are some minor problems, but we handle them", Fomin said. 

The $1.6 bln shipbuilding contract was tied with India in summer 2006. It is planned to deliver frigates to the customer in 2011-2012. First three Project 1135.6 frigates cost India over $1 bln and were built by Baltiysky Zavod. Ships were delivered in 2003-2004, one year behind the schedule. 

Yantar shipyard won India's tender for other three frigates. The first one was launched in Nov 2009, the second one – in June 2010. Indian president Prateebha Patil gave names to the ships – INS Teg (Saber), INS Tarkash (Quiver), and INS Trikand (Bow) – which were laid down in 2007-2008. 

Frigates of this series are multipurpose warships. They are designed for antisubmarine, antisurface and antiaircraft defenses, and are the first ships to be armed with Russian-Indian supersonic cruise missile system BrahMos.