Talwar-class frigate

The Talwar-class frigates or Project 11356 are a class of stealth guided missile frigates designed and built by Russia for the Indian Navy. The Talwar-class guided missile frigates are the improved versions of the Krivak III-class (Project 1135) frigates used by the Russian Coast Guard. The design has been further developed as the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate for the Russian Navy. Six ships were built in two batches between 1999 and 2013.

INS Talwar (F40) entering the port of Manama, Bahrain
Class overview
NameTalwar class
Builders
Operators Indian Navy
Preceded byBrahmaputra class
Succeeded byShivalik class
SubclassesAdmiral Grigorovich class
Cost$1.9 billion for 4 ships (2019 estimate, $475 million per ship)[1]
Planned10
Building4
Completed6
Active6
General characteristics
TypeGuided missile frigate
Displacement3,850 t (4,240 short tons) standard load [2] 4,035 t (4,448 short tons) full load [3]
Length124.8 m (409 ft 5 in)
Beam15.2 m (49 ft 10 in)
Draught4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
Propulsion
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range
  • 4,850 mi (4,210 nmi; 7,810 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
  • 1,600 mi (1,400 nmi; 2,600 km) at 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)[5]
Endurance30 days
Complement180 (18 officers)[5]
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × 3Ts-25E Garpun-B surface search radar
  • 1 × MR-212/201-1 navigation radar
  • 1 × Kelvin Hughes Nucleus-2 6000A radar
  • 1 × Ladoga-ME-11356 intertial navigation and stabilisation
  • 1 × Fregat M2EM 3D circular scan radar
  • 1 × Ratep JSC 5P-10E Puma fire-control system
  • 1 × 3R14N-11356 fire-control system FCS
  • 4 × MR-90 Orekh
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • 1 × TK-25E-5 EWS
  • 1 × PK-10 ship-borne decoy launching systems
  • 4 × KT-216 decoy launchers
Armament
  • 24 × Shtil-1 medium range missiles
  • 8 × Igla-1E (SA-16)
  • 8 × VLS launched Klub, anti-ship cruise missiles (F40, F43, F44)
  • 8 × VLS launched BrahMos, anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles (F45, F50, F51)
  • 1 × 100mm A-190E, naval gun
  • 2 × AK-630 CIWS (F45, F50, F51)
  • 2 × Kashtan CIWS (F40, F43, F44)
  • 2 × twin 533mm DTA-53-11356 torpedo tubes
  • 1 × RBU-6000 (RPK-8) rocket launcher[5]
Aircraft carried1 × Ka-28 (or) Ka-31 (or) HAL Dhruv[5]

Designed by Severnoye Design Bureau, the first batch of ships were built by Baltic Shipyard and the second batch by Yantar Shipyard. Preceded by the Brahmaputra-class frigates, the Talwar-class frigates are said to have semi-stealth features and better armament. The Indian Navy currently has six of these ships and 4 more are under construction including 2 in an Indian shipyard, for which Goa shipyard was selected.

History

On 17 November 1997, Russia and India signed a $1 billion contract, for three Krivak III-class multi-purpose frigates. The Indian Navy wanted to fill the gap created by the decommissioning of the Leander-class frigates until the Project 17-class frigates entered service.

After the signing of the contract, Severnoye Design Bureau began a detail design layout and the shipbuilder, Baltisky Zavod of St. Petersburg, began preparations for their construction. The project involved around 130 suppliers from Russia, India, Britain, Germany, Denmark, Belarus, Ukraine and other countries including over 30 St. Petersburg-based naval design organizations and institutes.

The first frigate, INS Talwar was delivered in May 2002. The second, INS Trishul, was delivered in November 2002 and the third, INS Tabar, in May 2003. The Russian firm delayed the delivery of three frigates by 13 months, 7 months and 11 months respectively. The contract stipulated the levy of liquidated damages for the delays and the same worked out to the equivalent of US$38.5 million. This was yet to be recovered as of December 2005.

The Government of India signed a follow-on contract for the purchase of three additional frigates on 14 July 2006. These ships will be built at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad. The first frigate was scheduled for delivery in April 2011. These ships will feature BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile instead of the Klub-N/3M54TE missile system which was provided to the Talwar, Trishul and Tabar frigates.

In July 2012 India Today announced the start of talks about purchasing three additional Talwar-class frigates (No.7 to No.9).[6] In March 2016, it was reported that India and Russia are still negotiating the purchase of the additional ships.[7]

Design and description

The Severnoye Design Bureau developed the Project 1135.6 vessel using an earlier Project 1135.1 design, which dated back to the early 1980s. The ship's redesigned topside and hull has a considerably reduced radar cross-section. While the superstructure sides are sloped and relatively clean, the very cluttered topside of the ship cannot be remotely described as having any signature reducing features. These frigates will be the first Indian Navy warships to incorporate some stealth features. The ship's hull is characterized by outward flare and tumblehome, while the superstructure (which forms a continuous junction with the hull) has a large fixed tumblehome angle.

Power plant

The Talwars features the Zorya designed and Mashproekt (Ukraine) manufactured M7N.1E gas turbine plant which comprises two DS-71 cruise turbines and two DT-59 boost turbines in two engine rooms. The cruising component consists of two DS-71 gas-turbine engines, each rated at 9,000 horsepower (6,700 kW) in forward running, and 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) in reverse. Two cruising RO63 two-speed gearboxes and one cruising R1063 auxiliary gearbox which makes it possible to use any of the cruising engines to drive both propeller shafts. A boost component with two DT-59.1 gas-turbine engines, each rated at 19,500 hp (14,500 kW) forward running, 4,500 hp (3,400 kW) in reverse and two RO58 single-speed reduction gearboxes. The four gas turbines are mounted on isolated cradles which minimize their contact with the hull and thereby considerably reduce the transmission of her vibration and sound.[4][8]

Electrical power is provided by four 1 MW Wärtsilä WCM-1000 generator sets with Cummins KTA50G3 engines and Kirloskar 1 MV AC generators. The contract for the generators was signed with Wärtsilä Denmark.

Flight deck

The Talwar class can accommodate one Ka-28 Helix-A antisubmarine helicopter or one Ka-31 Helix-B airborne early warning helicopter which can provide over-the-horizon targeting. The vessel can also embark the navalised variant of the indigenous HAL Dhruv.

Armament
INS Trikand at Portsmouth Naval Base, UK.

The frigates are armed with a new 3M-54 Klub anti-ship system with a vertical missile launcher, Shtil-1 multi-channel medium-range surface-to-air missile system (an export version of the SA-N-12 "Grizzly"), a Kashtan anti-aircraft missile and artillery system, a RBU-6000 depth charge launcher and Puma-Universal artillery system. These ships are designed to carry and operate one heavy duty helicopter.

Primary weapon

In the main strike role, an eight-cell 3S14E vertical missile launcher is fitted, which accommodates the 3M-54E Klub-N anti-ship missile developed by the Novator Design Bureau. The Agat Research and Production Enterprise has supplied the 3R14N-11356 shipborne fire-control system associated with the Klub-N. The 3M-54E Klub is an 8.22 metres (27.0 ft) long missile using active radar guidance with a range of 220 kilometres (140 mi). It is a three-stage missile in which the terminal stage reaches supersonic velocity (Mach 2.9) when it is approximately 20 km (12 mi) from its target.

The follow-on order of INS Teg, Tarkash and Trikand are fitted with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which has a range of 300 kilometres (190 mi) and moves with the velocity of Mach 3 throughout its flight.[9][10][11]

Air defence

The Shtil-1 SAM system with a 3S-90 missile launcher is fitted forward of the bridge and is armed with the 9M317 (SA-N-12 "Grizzly", navalised SA-17) missile. 24 missiles are carried in a magazine located below deck. Guidance and target illumination for these missiles is provided by four MR-90 Orekh (NATO: Front Dome) radars, which are connected to a command and control post. The SA-N-12 missile uses a combination of inertial guidance and semi-active radar homing to its maximum range of 45 km (28 mi). The 70 kg (150 lb) blast-fragmentation warhead is triggered by a radar proximity fuze. The missile's control system and warhead can be adjusted to a specific target following target recognition, which increases hit probability. Eight Igla-1E (SA-16) portable air defence missiles are also carried.

Close-in weapon system (CIWS)

For the CIWS role, two Kashtan air defence gun and missile systems are used. Each system consists of two GSh-30k (AO-18K) six-barreled 30 mm Gatling guns, fed by a link-less mechanism, and two SA-N-11 (navalised variant of the 9M311, SA-19) SAM clusters. The system also includes a storing and reloading system to keep 32 SAMs in container-launchers in the vessel's under-deck spaces. The follow-on order ships Teg, Tarkash and Trikand were fitted with the AK-630 system, replacing the Kashtan system in the earlier ships.[12]

Main gun

One 100 mm A-190(E) gun is fitted forward for use against ship and shore based targets The A-190(E) uses a lightweight gun mount with an automatic gun and fuze setter. Fire control is provided by the 5P-10E Puma FCS. The gun can fire 60 rounds a minute out to a range of 8.2 nautical miles (15.2 km). The weight of each shell is 16 kilograms (35 lb).

The gun features higher automation of fire preparation and control and employs advanced guided and rocket-assisted long-range and enhanced-lethality projectiles fitted with dual-mode impact/proximity fuzes. Together with the use of the muzzle velocity meter, it is designed to produce increased combat capability. In addition, the gun turret features stealth technology to minimize the radar signature of a ship.

Anti-submarine warfare

The ships carry the RPK-8 system, which uses a 12 barreled RBU-6000 ASW rocket launcher[13] to fire the 212 mm 90R anti-submarine rocket or RGB-60 depth charges. The firing range is from 600 to 4,300 metres (2,000 to 14,100 ft), and the depth of engagement is up to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).

Two twin 533 mm DTA-53-11356 fixed torpedo tube launchers are fitted amidships and fire the SET-65E/53-65KE torpedoes. The Purga anti-submarine fire-control system provides control for both the RBU-6000 and DTA-53 launchers.

Electronics and sensors

Radar
  • Surface search: One 3Ts-25E Garpun-B radar at I-band frequency, using both active and passive channels, provides long-range surface target designation. One MR-212/201-1 radar at I-band frequency is used for navigation and a separate Kelvin Hughes Nucleus-2 6000A radar set is used for short-range navigation and surface surveillance. Also fitted with a Ladoga-ME-11356 inertial navigation and stabilisation suite supplied by Elektropribor.
  • Air/surface search: One Fregat M2EM (NATO: Top Plate) 3D circular scan radar at E-band frequency, provides target indication to the Shtil-1 missile system. Featuring continuous electronically scanned arrays, the radar rotates at 12 or 6 rpm and has an instrumented range to 300 km.
  • Fire control: Features a Ratep JSC 5P-10E Puma fire control system, consisting of a phased array and target tracking radar along with laser and TV devices. The system, fitted above the bridge deck, features in-flight course correction updates via data links, has a maximum detection range of 60 km, operates autonomously and is capable of automatically locking on to four targets and tracking them.

Sonar

According to some reports, the APSOH (Advanced Panoramic Sonar Hull) hull-mounted sonar is fitted on the vessels. The APSOH sonar performs active ranging, passive listening, auto tracking of targets and classification. Other reports indicate that the BEL HUMSA (Hull Mounted Sonar Array) sonar is fitted. The HUMSA is a panoramic medium-range active/passive sonar system developed by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL). As a stop gap measure, Russian Bronza (MG-345) hull mounted sonars are installed.

Information released from the Severnoye Design Bureau (SDB) indicate that French towed array sonars (TAS) are also fitted. This is very plausible given that many Indian Navy ships now use French TAS, however INS Talwar shows no signs of such a system. The vessel may also have a Russian SSN-137 Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) with NATO reporting name Steer Hide, providing active search with medium frequency, and the sonar might be license produced in India with Indian designation SSSN-113.[14]

Countermeasures

The frigate features the Russian-made TK-25E-5 integrated electronic warfare suite, which comprises a wideband electronic support measures system that has antenna arrays mounted in the superstructure and a multimode jammer. Four KT-216 decoy launchers, forming part of the PK-10 system, are fitted for soft-kill defence. A total of 120 120mm chaff and infrared decoy rounds are carried on board.

Some ships of the class including INS Tabar have had their TK-25E-5 ESM suites replaced with BEL manufactured Varuna ESM systems with their distinctive circular housing located above the Fregat radar.

Combat data system
  • The Trebovaniye-M combat information and control platform is a fully distributed combat management system. It controls all platforms of attack and defence weapons, independently generates combat missions based on situation analysis, determines optimal number of missile firings, displays information on the state of ship-borne weaponry and transmits data to protection systems.
  • Interconnected via an Ethernet LAN, Trebovaniye-M features eight T-171 full-colour operator workstations (with 18-inch colour flat panel displays) and three central T-162 servers. Individual items of combat system equipment interface to Trebovaniye-M via T-119 and T-190 bus interface units. Raw radar data is received through a T-181 data reception unit.

Recent developments

India and Russia are negotiating for building four more Talwar frigates for the Indian Navy.[15] In September 2016, it was reported that India would acquire two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates from Russia and remaining two will be built in India.[16] The deal was signed in October 2016. These frigates are based on the Talwar class and were to be commissioned into the Russian Navy, but after the Ukrainian Conflict, Ukraine refused to supply any more engines for the Russian ships. So far, only two of the six have been commissioned by Russia.[17] In August 2017, the Indian Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared a proposal of Rs 490 crore to buy two gas turbines from Zorya-Mashproekt in Ukraine for the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates being built in Russia.[18][19]

In October 2018, Indian Ministry of Defense signed a deal for US$950 million for procuring two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, Admiral Butakov and Admiral Istomin.[20][21][22] The two frigates will be delivered to Indian Navy by 2022.[23][24]

A contract was signed between Rosoboronexport and Goa Shipyard for the construction of 2 frigates under license on 20 November 2018. The two frigates will be armed with Brahmos missile system and will include a host of Indian equipment and will be delivered by 2027.[22] The contract for the two ships was awarded to Goa Shipyard Limited by the government of India on 30 January 2019.[25]

The two frigates being built at Goa Shipyard will boasts of a much higher indigenous content and will be named Triput class frigate. The new class of ship will feature BHEL made 76mm gun instead of its Russian counterpart, along with other Indian weapon and sensors.[26]

Ships of the class
Name Pennant Builder Laid Down Launched Commissioned Homeport Status
Batch 1
Talwar F40 Baltiysky Zavod 10 March 1999 12 May 2000 18 June 2003 Mumbai Active
Trishul F43 24 September 1999 24 November 2000 25 June 2003
Tabar F44 26 May 2000 25 May 2001 19 April 2004
Batch 2
Teg F45 Yantar Shipyard July 2007 27 November 2009 27 April 2012[27] Mumbai Active
Tarkash F50 November 2007 23 June 2010 9 November 2012[28]
Trikand F51 11 June 2008 25 May 2011[29][30] 29 June 2013[31]
Batch 3
Tushil Yantar Shipyard 13 July 2013 28 October 2021 [32] November 2023 (expected) [33] Launched
Tamala 15 November 2013 April 2024 (expected)[33][34] Under Construction
Batch 4 (Triput class)
Triput[26] Goa Shipyard 29 January 2021[35] 2026 (expected) Under Construction[36]
Unnamed 18 June 2021[35]

See also

References
  1. Gady, Franz-Stefan (1 February 2019). "India Signs Contract For 2 Guided-Missile Frigates".
  2. "Mikhailov: the contract on 3 frigates for India to be executed in 2012". Rusnavy.com. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  3. "The 3rd ship for the Indian Navy was carried out by JSC Shipyard "Yantar"". Shipyard-yantar.ru. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
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  6. "Индия ведет переговоры о заказе еще трех фрегатов проекта 11356".
  7. "Russia in talks with India to sell three Project 11356 frigates". TASS. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
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  13. "India gains new "stealth" frigate". defenceweb.co.za. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  14. "ATLAS ELEKTRONIK ACTAS Towed Sonar System selected by Indian Navy for Frigates & Destroyers". 5 December 2014.
  15. "India, Russia likely to sign deal for 4 stealth frigates". The Hindu. 22 December 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  16. "India, Russia discuss $4bn deal for 4 stealth frigates". The Times of India. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  17. Novichkov, Nikolai (4 August 2016). "India to acquire three Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates from Russia". janes.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  18. "Defence ministry approves acquisition of six Apache attack helicopters for Indian Army". Firstpost. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  19. "Defence ministry clears proposal to buy six Apache attack helicopters for Indian Army". The Financial Express. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  20. Pubby, Manu (29 October 2018). "India inks $950 million deal for Russian frigates". The Economic Times.
  21. "India signs USD950 million deal for two Russian-built frigates". 29 October 2018.
  22. "India, Russia sign $500 million navy deal for 2 stealth frigates". 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  23. "India signs USD950 million deal for two Russian-built frigates". 29 October 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  24. "India, Russia Sign $950 Million Deal For 2 Guided-Missile Frigates". 29 October 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  25. "Contract Signing with M/S Goa Shipyard Limited for Acquisition of two additional Project 1135.6 Follow-on Ships for Indian Navy". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  26. "India's BHEL to Supply Upgraded Main Guns for Indian Navy Frigates". Naval News. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  27. "Russia to Deliver INS Teg on April 27". navaltoday.com. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  28. "Indian Navy to Take Over INS Tarkash in November". navaltoday.com. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  29. "Yantar shipyard prepared third Indian frigate for launch". rusnavy.com. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  30. "Delivery of stealth frigates from Russia delayed: Antony". MSN News. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  31. "Russian shipyard to deliver third frigate to India". english.people.cn. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  32. "Russia's Yantar Shipyard Launches 7th Talwar-Class Frigate For India". Naval News. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  33. Peri, Dinakar (17 August 2022). "Six-month delay in delivery of two stealth frigates by Russia due to war in Ukraine". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  34. "В Индии заложили еще один фрегат проекта 11356" (in Russian). Flotprom. 21 June 2021.
  35. "KEEL LAYING FOR SECOND FRIGATE OF P11356 PROJECT AT GOA SHIPYARD LIMITED". PIB. 18 June 2021.
  36. "Goa Shipyard begins production of stealth frigates for Navy, delivery likely by 2026". The Times of India. 21 September 2020.
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