St. Petersburg shipbuilder delivers frigate to Indian Navy

The Baltiysky factory in St. Petersburg delivered the frigate Talvar to the Indian Navy on June 18. The factory's press service told Rosbalt that before the signing of the bilateral act transferring the frigate, a review of both Russian and Indian crews took place. The review was conducted by the Chief Commander of the Russian Navy Vladimir Kuroedov and Indian Navy Joint Chiefs Commander Madkhvendra Singh.

Work on the construction of the Talvar began in March 1998. In May 2000 the frigate was launched into the water. On March 15, 2002 the frigate completed a special program of government testing which was conducted at the naval base in Baltiysk. On May 8, 2002 a government commission confirmed that all the frigate's systems were operating at the highest levels. On May 17, 2002 the Talvar began training in the Baltic Sea, which was completed on June 14.

A contract calling for the building and delivery of three frigates to Indian Navy by government company Rosvooruzheniye was signed on November 17, 1997. Specialists valued the contract at USD 1 billion. Baltiysky factory became the chief executor of the contract on March 10, 1998. Construction on the second frigate Trishul in the group began on September 22, 1999 and the frigate was launched on November 24, 2000. Construction on the third frigate Tabar began on May 26, 2000 and the frigate was launched on May 25, 2001. The Tabar is currently undergoing testing. Testing was completed on the Trishul at the beginning of April 2003.