New Talwar class frigate for Indian Navy launched

Moscow, May 27: A new Talwar class stealth frigate built by Russia for the Indian Navy was launched at a solemn ceremony at Yantar Shipyard in Russia''s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.

Ira Malhotra, wife of newly-appointed Ambassador Ajai Malhotra, launched the stealth frigate ''Trikand'', the third of the three stealth frigates christened by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil along with ''Teg'' (Sabre) and ''Trakash'' (Quiver) in the Navy's tradition of naming the same class of warships beginning with common letter.

"Trikand", means a mythological arrow with three heads.

Deputy Head of the Defence Committee of the State Duma, Savenko, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Baltic Fleet Vice Admiral V P Kravchuk and top officials from ROSOBORONEXPORT state arms exporters, United Shipbuilding Corporation, Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation, Russian industry and public representatives also attended the ceremony.

Ambassador Malhotra congratulated workers of the state-owned Yantar Shipyard and all associated organisations upon the successful launch.

He recalled that defence cooperation was a key pillar of the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia, and that that the launch of INS Trikand reflected the sophisticated level that India-Russia defence cooperation had achieved.

PTI