Indian Navy to Aquire Four Russian Stealth Frigates for $3 bn

While India's Air Force has drawn a great deal of attention for its plans to vastly expand its fleet, the country's Navy has also invested heavily in enhancing its capabilities at a rate well ahead of the country's economic growth. India's Navy seeks to increase its warship strength from approximately 140 warships it fields at present to 198 by 2027, a growth of 43%. Alongside investment in its carrier program, which aims to have three carriers in active service by the mid 2030s and induct electromagnetic launch systems on its flagship INS Vishal, the country has sought to expand its fleet of smaller vessels by acquiring new warships from Russia. New Delhi and Moscow in February 2018 finalised contractual terms for the supply of four Russian built stealth frigates for $775 million per vessel. The 'Upgraded Krivak III Class' are some of Russia's most advanced warships, and will be built in Russia's Kaliningrad.

Frigates serve as the workhorses of the majority of naval powers, a class of warship heavier than corvettes but lighter than destroyers which can fulfil a number of combat roles. Russia's Navy already operates several Upgraded Krivak III Class frigates, which were first inducted in June 2003. The fleet is set to operate ten of the platforms, making it the most numerous frigate in the Russian Navy. Despite their significantly superior capabilities, the Russian platforms cost less India's indigenous Project 17A frigates currently contracted by the country's own shipbuilders. India already operates less advanced variants of the Krivak frigate, and it is largely as a result of the excellent performance of previous variants that the country has commissioned further platforms for its Navy. Several of India's older Russian built frigates have been fitted with Brahmos cruise missiles, platforms co developed with Russia and some of the most lethal anti ship platforms ever developed. Future frigates are also highly likely to deploy the Brahmos, the world's fastest cruise missiles which have been known to tear warships in half upon impact due to their extreme speeds. Ultimately while Delhi has made headlines for its moves to increase defence ties to the United States and Western bloc in recent years, Russia remains by far its leading provider of arms and is set to maintain this position well into the future