Russia Says Indian Frigates Will Arrive on Time

The Indian Navy has been assured timely delivery of three stealth frigates under construction from Russia. The commitment from Moscow comes even as there is uncertainty on the delivery of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshokov and the nuclear submarines under construction in Russia.A senior Indian Defence Ministry official said Moscow communicated to Indian authorities last month during what he called "high-level meetings" that the delivery schedule of the three stealth frigates to the Indian Navy will be on time.Final delivery of the frigates is 2012, with the first to arrive by year's end, added the Defence Ministry official.Russia is building the three frigates at the Yantar shipyard in Russia' Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad as part of a $1.6 billion contract signed in July 2006. It will be armed with the Indo-Russian-developed 300-kilometer-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, enhancing India's blue water capabilities. Russia built in 2004 three Krivak-class frigates for India but all were delivered late.

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