NEW DELHI: India has signed a $950m contract with Russia for the procurement of two frigates fitted with BrahMos missiles, a move that is unlikely to go down well in Washington.
Last month, the Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the purchase of four frigates from Russia, along with the S400 Triumpf air defense platform, Kamov Utility Helicopters, and the joint production of the latest AK series rifles in India.
Despite Washington’s threat to impose sanctions on countries which engage in “significant transactions” with Russia, New Delhi has made it clear that it will not compromise on its strategic needs.
The two 3620 ton Admiral Grigorovich frigates, being built at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, are upgraded variants of the six Talwar-class frigates that Russia built for the Indian Navy between 2003 and 2013.
With a top speed of 30 knots, they have an endurance of around 30 days and can be used for anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, as well as anti-air warfare missions.
Reports said that while these frigates will be shipped to India for fitting them with gas turbine engines from Ukraine, two others are likely to be built in India later, though an agreement that is yet to be signed.