Russia to Build Three Frigates for Black Sea Fleet

The Yantar Shipyard in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad has been selected to build the first three frigates for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, shipyard spokesman Sergei Mikhailov has said.

“The construction of the frigates for the Russian Navy will be carried out in parallel with the construction of same-type frigates for the Indian Navy,” he said.

The new frigates will be equipped with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, a 100mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defence gun / missile systems, two twin 533mm torpedo launchers, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter.

Yantar is also currently building three frigates for the Indian Navy under a $1.6bn contract signed in 2007, according to RIA Novosti.