Feature 4 | RussIAN NAvAL PRogRAmmes
(Abhay) corvettes, as well as a dozen Natya
India has been an
I (Pondicherry) class ocean minesweepers
important customer
with six Yevgenya (Mahé) class inshore
for Russia warships,
minesweepers, although the last are paying
and for weapon
off. India continues to buy Russian surface
systems for its
combatants and in the last decade acquired
ships.
three Modified Krivak III class frigates as the
Talwar class. However, delivery of these ships
slipped a year when trials showed mutual
interference problems with the sensor,
communication, and weapon systems.
New Delhi was offered favourable rates
on a second batch of three Talwars which
are being built at Kaliningrad (formerly
Königsberg) by the Yantar yard, and in and two newbuild ships were ordered in Indonesia is also negotiating with
July 2006 signed a US$1.6 billion contract 2002 with options on another two. The last Russia to buy two Kilo and two Amur
with work beginning last year. The ships of the destroyers was delivered last year, 950 (Project 1650) class submarines but,
were scheduled for delivery between 2010 but there are no signs that China will order again, there are no indications when the
and 2011 but Mr Antony has admitted that another two or any more submarines, and US$1 billion contract will be signed. Russia
unspecified problems are reported with the the Gorshov Affair will undoubtedly have is also competing to meet Thailand’s long-
first ship, which will mean delays, although put them off. term plan for two submarines and will
the keel of the second ship was laid early Despite problems of the sort highlighted probably offer Amur class boats.
this year. above, the robustness and relatively easy Two Gepard (Project 11661)
Despite this, the Russians are offering to maintenance of Russian ship designs means class frigates are being built under a
build a third batch of three ships. Under that there are still plenty of customers in US$300 million contract for Vietnam
the new proposal the new ships would be North Africa and Asia. which has taken up an option on another
built at Severnaya Verf in St Petersburg Algeria will buy two Kilo (Project two. The first two frigates are being built at
for US$1.7 billion, possibly to overcome 636) class submarines from Russia for the Zelenodolsk yard and will be delivered
Indian concerns about Yantar. They are US$400 million to augment two Kilo in 2009 and early 2010. The two new ships
needed to make up a shortfall through a (Project 877E) class boats which were are scheduled to be built in Vietnam,
two-year delay in the Indian Shivalik (Type acquired in 1987-1988 to replace Romeo although earlier plans to build BPS 500
17) class frigate programme whose first-of- class submarines. and up to eight Tarantul (Project 1241)
class will not now be commissioned until They were refitted in Russian yards from class corvettes in the country appear to
2009 or even 2010. 1993 and were operational by 1996. Under have been abandoned.
These and other setbacks have prompted a recent arms package signed in March The frigates are intended to replace
India’s chief of naval staff, Admiral Sureesh they will again be refitted, indeed, work has five Petya (Project 159A) class corvettes
Mehta, to call for reduced dependence already started on Rais Hadj Mubarek at the transferred from Russia some 30 years ago.
upon Russian equipment. But some 70% Admiralty Yard, St Petersburg, and her sister Interestingly, these are kept in service with
of Indian equipment is from Russia or of ship, El Hadj Slimane will follow her. spares not from Russia but from India.
Russian design and the lack of spares has Other naval work anticipated includes While plans to build Tarantuls appear to
caused major problems for the Indian Navy. the acquisition of two Steregushchiy have been abandoned, two Tarantul V class
Mr Antony has publicly complained about (Project 20382) class light frigates, two corvettes were delivered to Vietnam at the
the quality of imported defence equipment Zubr landing craft, air cushion, and up to beginning of this year. Hanoi also plans
and is considering buying warships from 15 fast attack craft. Work is expected on the to acquire two Molniya (Project 12428)
other foreign yards. Koni (Mourad Rais) class frigates Mourad class fast attack craft, each armed with
China, anxious to improve its own fleet Rais and Rais Kellich and one or both of 16 Zvezda Kh-35 (SS-N-25 ‘Switchblade’)
in a short time, also turned to Russian the Nanuchka II (Burya) class corvettes anti-ship missiles.
yards. In 1993 it ordered a dozen Kilos with Rais Hamidou and Salah Rais. The surface Finally, there is the much-discussed plan
the first two being Project 877EKM boats combatants are believed to be in line for to sell up to three Amur class submarines
which had been ordered for a Warsaw Pact new engines as well as upgraded sensors to Venezuela.
ally from the Nizhny Novogorod yard. and weapon systems. Caracas had envisaged a force of
The remainder were Project 636 boats, Indonesia was reported last year to nine Amur class boats, but the Russians
mostly from St Petersburg, and the last was have signed a contract for up to four persuaded the Venezuelan government
delivered in 2006. Steregushchiy (Project 20382) class frigates, that a more practical force will be three
In 1996 two uncompleted Sovremenny although nothing more has been heard Kilo (Project 636) class boats, which will
class destroyers were ordered by Beijing about the project. be worth some US$1.4 billion. WT
26 Warship Technology May 2008
WT May 08 - p25+26.indd 26 23/04/2008 16:17:10
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