Baltiisk Naval Base (Russia), Apr 19: The Indian Navy today added the `Battle Ax` to its formidable arsenal with the commissioning of third stealth frigate INS Tabar at a colourful ceremony here.
The function was attended by the Indian ambassador to Russia Krishnan Raghunath and Vice-Admiral Madanjit Singh, flag officer commanding-in-chief of the western Naval Command.
INS Tabar (the Battle Ax) is the third in the series of three Krivak class stealth frigates of project 11356 built on India`s orders by St Petersburg-based Baltiisky Zavod Shipyard. Earlier, last year Russia had delivered INS Talwar (the sword) and INS Trishul (the trident) under USD one billion deal signed with Russia in 1997 for the development of three new generation stealth frigates for the Navy on the basis of Krivak Project.
The frigates with the displacement of 4,035 tonnes, are armed with the latest hardware available today including club-n anti-ship cruise missiles, medium range "shitl-1" air defence system and powerful anti-aircraft gun a-190e "Puma".
Stealth frigates, used for a wide range of tasks, including air defence, anti-submarine warfare, are to be armed with "Brahmos" cruise missiles jointly developed and produced by Russia and India. Bureau Report