Frigate INS Tarkash Finishes State Trials

23.08.2012 Built by Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, frigate INS Tarkash (stands for "Quiver") is finishing state sea trials, reports the shipyard's press service.

INS Tarkash is the second out of three Project 11356 frigates ordered by Indian Navy and built by Yantar Shipyard in Russia. The ship was keel-laid in Nov 2007 and launched in June 2010. Currently, the frigate is at the shipyard's acceptance base in Baltiysk preparing for completion of state trials.

In the next few days, the ship will carry out firing qualification by antiaircraft missile system Shtil. That will be closing part of the state sea trials. Last week, INS Tarkash took missiles aboard; depending on the weather, the ship will take the sea for firing drill soon.

The frigate's trial team jointly with representatives of JSC Mortehnologia began training of Indian crew on Aug 6. The shipboard practice of Indian mariners will last up to acceptance trials.

Along with onboard training program, experts eliminate minor defects revealed at the first round of state trials.

The ship is expected to return to Yantar early in Sept to prepare for acceptance trials. It is planned to hand over INS Tarkash to the Indian party in Nov 2012.

First ship of that project, INS Teg (stands for "Saber") was triumphantly delivered to Indian Navy on Apr 27, 2012. The frigate was laid down at Yantar in 2007 and leads the 3-ship series ordered by India.

The third frigate closing the series, INS Trikand (stands for "Bow") was keel-laid in the summer of 2008 and put afloat in May 2011. Currently, the frigate undergoes outfitting works and is going to start dockside trials in Oct. According to plans, the ship is to be handed over to client in spring or early summer 2013.

Recall that the overall value of the 3-frigate contract signed in 2007 in New Delhi makes $1.6 bln.