Indian Frigate Completed Trials in Baltic Sea

27.08.2012 State sea trials of frigate INS Tarkash built by Yantar Shipyard (Kaliningrad, Russia) for Indian Navy have been successfully completed in the Baltic Sea, reported ITAR-TASS on Aug 25.

Since June 2012 when INS Tarkash sailed off the shipyard's quay, all shipboard systems have been tested including weapons. "A firing test effectively held by mid-range surface-to-air missile system Shtil-1 in the Baltic Sea was the last dot in the state trials program", said a spokesman for Yantar Shipyard.

Early in Sept, INS Tarkash will return to the shipyard for docking and examination. It is expected that Indian acceptance panel would arrive in Yantar Shipyard at the same time. Official handover ceremony is scheduled in Nov 2012.

INS Tarkash is the second out of three Project 11356 frigates ordered by India in 2006. The first frigate, INS Teg was delivered to the client in Apr 2012, with a one-year delay. The third ship, INS Trikand is supposed to join Indian Navy in June 2013.

Project 11356 frigates displace about 4,000 tons. Their hull length is 124.8 meters, full speed is 30 knots, and operating range is 4,500 miles. The ships are armed with gun mounts, antiaircraft missile/gun systems, torpedo tubes, and antiship missiles.