Underwater test launch of BrahMos missile to be carried out in 2011

Russian-Indian joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace has developed submarine-launched modification of BrahMos cruise missile; test launch is scheduled in the current year, said the company's executive director Sivathanu Pillai. 

The company has already developed the submarine-launched version, he said. It is planned to conduct the test launch from drowned platform placed on a special pontoon. The launch is supposed to be performed this year, added the executive director. 

As was previously reported, the Russian-Indian company had developed a modification of BrahMoss upersonic cruise missile designed for submarines. 

Russian-Indian joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace was established in India in 1998 for production of supersonic antiship missiles. The company was founded by NPO Mashinostroyenia (Russia) and Defense Research and Development Organisation (India).

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First frigate built for India to start trials in Feb-March

First of three frigates built for Indian Navy by Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) will be ready for trials in Feb-March 2011, said today Sivathanu Pillai, the executive director of Russian-Indian joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace. 

One ship has been fully equipped; the second one will be also completed in Feb-March, he said. 

According to Mr. Pillai, the shipyard conducts final works to prepare the frigate for trials. He also said that the new ships could launch BrahMos missiles both in the Baltic Sea and in the Indian Ocean when the first frigate arrives there from Russia. This issue is at the Russian Navy's option, said the executive director. 

The shipbuilding contract for three frigates for Indian Navy was signed on July 14, 2007 in Delhi. Overall cost of the contract makes about $1.6 bln. This is the second export contract for Russian frigates tied with India. The first one cost about $1 bln and was signed in Nov 1997. Three ships were built and handed over to Indian Navy – INS Tabar (Axe), INS Trishul (Trident), and INS Talvar (Sword). 

Dimensions and navigability of the frigates currently built at Yantar will have no cardinal differences with those exported to India earlier. The changes are related to armament and onboard equipment. In particular, the new frigates are armed with Russian-Indian cruise missiles BrahMos. 

As was reported, the first ship of new series – INS Teg (Saber) – was launched in Nov 2009, the second one – INS Tarkash (Quiver) – in June 2010. 

Project 11356 guided missile frigates are designed for antisubmarine, antisurface, and antiaircraft defenses. The ship's length is 125 meters; beam is 15 meters; displacement is 4,000 tons; crew is up to 200; fuel range is 4,500 miles.

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