INS Tarkash India’s New Stealth Frigates

INS Tarkash is India’s new stealth frigate. It is constructed by Russia for Indian Navy and comes under “Talwar class frigates”. In 2006 India and Russia signed a deal to construct three Talwar-class frigate of $1.6 billion. It is also known also Krivak III class frigate.

The first frigate was INS Teg. On April 2007 INS Teg had joined Indian Navy. Tarkash was built in Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad. It was first seen on 23^rd June 2010. The entire three frigates are guided missile frigate. Russia handed Tarkash to India on 9^th Nov. 2012. It will be in service from December 2012.

Most of equipment in the ship is Russian made, but some Indian made systems are also incorporated. The main different between the Teg and Tarkash is that Teg has Klub-N missiles, instead of this Tarkash equipped with eight BrahMos missile. Tarkash will join the Western Fleet of Indian Navy.

Tarkash uses stealth technology. To reduce radar cross section it has a special hull. Tarkash is also equipped with 100 mm gun, an antisubmarine warfare helicopter (ASW), two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system and two Kashtan air defense gun.

The last frigate which is INS Trikand will join Indian Navy in 2013 summer. Current it is going dock trails, after that it will be tested in Baltic Sea.

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