By Sangeeta Saxena
Moscow. 23 August 2021. Amidst COVID-19 resulting news deficit, it was a positive news emanation from the United Shipbuilding Corporation at Army Forum 2021, Moscow. India will receive its first Russian made stealth frigate of the Krivak Class in mid-2023.
“Due to COVID we had delays in execution of some of the stages of construction. There was an approximately eight month delay. The first ship should be delivered in the middle of 2023,” said Alexey Rakhmanov, Chief Executive Officer of USC during an interaction with the visiting Indian media.
It may be recalled that India and Russia signed an inter-governmental agreement in 2016 for four Krivak Class stealth Frigates. Out of these two will be off the shelf purchase from Russia for USD I Bn and two will be built by Goa Shipyard Limited.
Rakhmanov informed that the basic structures of both the frigates are ready and GSL team would be trained for construction at the Yanter Shipyard. It may be recalled that the Keels for both the ships to be built at GSL were laid in January and June 2021.
Keeping in line with India’s Make in India policy and offset clause he confirmed that technology transfer will be done to GSL .
