The first of three additional Talwar-class, guided missile frigates, which Russian shipyard Yantar is building for the Indian Navy, has been set afloat.

Sources in the Indian Navy said the ship has been afloat but post-construction work is still on. Stipulated trials, including those to ascertain its sea-worthiness, will start from 2010.

The Russian shipyard has also completed the construction of the hull of the two other ships, added sources.

Christened Tej, Tarkash and Trikand, the ships are being built following a contract of 1.6 billion dollars [Rs 7,200 crore at the 2006 exchange rate when USD 1= Rs 45 approximately] that India signed with Russia in July 2006.

“We are hopeful to operate the first of the boats by 2011. The rest of the boats should be in service by 2012,” said Vice Admiral Sanjeev Bhasin, flag officer commanding in chief (Western Fleet).

This is part of the Indian Navy’s modernisation programme in which it plans to induct 40 ships including frigates, destroyers, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, mini counter vessels, fast interceptors [speedboats] and tankers into its fleet.

The Talwar-class frigate weighs 4,000 metric tons and has a speed of 30 knots.

It is capable of accomplishing a wide range of naval missions and would play a major role in hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines.

The Indian Navy currently operates three ships of the same class — INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar.

The noticeable change in the new ships is its weaponry. The new frigates will be armed with Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles as against the Klub-class missiles installed on the current Talwar-class frigates.

They will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, the Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defence gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter.