In line with the US$1 billion deal signed in October 2016 with Russia, the Indian government signed a contract for the construction of two Project 1135.6 frigates with M/s Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) with scheduled delivery in June 2026 and December 2026 respectively.
Also known as the Talwar class, the Project 1135.6 is a class of guided-missile frigates designed and built by Russia for the Indian Navy. A modification of the Krivak III-class frigates, the Project 1135.6 is fitted with a number of « Make in India » sub-systems.
In line with the country’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, these ships being constructed at M/s GSL (Goa) under Russian assistance will be the largest class of in-service ships showcasing indigenous equipment such as sonar system, Combat Management System etc.
The two follow-on Project 1135.6 frigates are to integrate the BrahMos cruise missile system in place of the 3M-54E Klub-N anti-ship missile and “advanced sensors”.
The Project 1135.6 warships are capable of reaching top speeds of 30 knots, have an endurance of around 30 days. They have a length of 124.8 meters and a displacement of about 4,000 tons. They are fitted with a flight deck to carry a helicopter for anti-submarine warfare missions.
The new frigates will deeply bolster Indian Navy capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as the service is dealing with a shortage of 10 frigates out of the 24 that it needs. The Indian Navy currently operates six Talwar-class frigates.
