First Talwar-class frigate commissioned for India

Sea Power, Aug 2003

Adm. Madhavendra Singh, chief of the Indian Navy, accepted the first Talwar-class frigate for the service from Russia in St. Petersburg on 18 June 2003. The INS Talwar, originally scheduled for delivery in 2002, was finally delivered following more than 18 months of delays due to recurring faults of the Kashmir (Shtil) surface-to-air missile system.

The second unit of the class, Trishul, was turned over to India on 25 June 2003 during the International Exhibition Salon-2003 held in St. Petersburg. The third and final unit, the Tabar, is undergoing sea trials and is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2003. The three units of the Talwar class are modified units of the Russian Krivak III-class frigates. Many of the characteristics found in the Krivak III and Talwar classes will also be found in the Indian-built Nilgiri-class (Project 17) frigate, of which the first unit was launched at Mazagon Dock shipyard in Mumbai on 18 April 2003.