New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will travel to Russia early December to hold talks with his counterpart and commission INS Tushil, the first of two stealth frigates being built in Kaliningrad under a $2.5-billion deal. Government sources said Singh was planning to travel to Russia in November but the visit has been rescheduled at Moscow’s request.
During his visit he will also take stock of the defence partnership while pressing the need to continue supplies at a pace comfortable to both countries, it is learnt.
Delivery of several systems ordered from Russia, including S-400 missile systems and the stealth frigates, have been delayed.
The two frigates being built by Kaliningrad-based Yantar Shipyard were meant to be delivered by the end of 2022, but delivery was delayed on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, payment issues between India and Russia and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The second frigate, Tamal, would be delivered by early next year.
India in 2016 inked an inter-governmental deal with Russia for four frigates, a follow-on of Talwar-class vessels. The final contract was signed at the end of 2018.
According to the deal, two ships are to be built in Russia, and the other two at the Goa Shipyard in India with technical collaboration from Russia. Yantar Shipyard has also manufactured three of six Talwar-class frigates currently in service with the Indian Navy.
When ThePrint visited Yantar Shipyard in 2019, hulls for the two ships had already been cut for the Russian Navy, but remained mothballed for several years. The new ships will have 22 new systems, including India-specific navigation, communication and weapons.
Also Read: US-Australia AUKUS submarine deal in trouble? US Congressional paper suggests drastic tweaks