Frigate INS Teg Continues Sea Trials

Frigate INS Teg (stands for “saber”) built by Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad continued sea trials after replacement of damaged cruising turbine, told a source in the shipyard to Central Navy Portal.

INS Teg is the first Project 11356 frigate in the second 3-ship series ordered by Indian Navy; she was laid down at Yantar in July 2007 (serial number 354) and launched in Nov 2009. Mooring trials started in spring 2011, and late in Aug the ship was transferred to Baltiysk for the first phase of shipyard’s sea trials.

An accident happened to the frigate’s portside cruising turbine in mid-Oct at sea; as a result, trial program was suspended and the ship returned to the shipyard. The damaged turbine was disassembled and replaced with a new one within 2 weeks. When turbine replacement and adjustment works were finished, the frigate returned to Baltiysk to complete sea trials. Prior to that, the ship was tested at degaussing station. Upon arrival to Baltiysk base, INS Teg passed mooring trials of replaced turbine and on Nov 5 took the sea again. After the shipyard’s sea trials, a new phase will start – testing of onboard armament and gun/missile firing drills.

When building three Project 11356 frigates for Indian Navy, Yantar shipyard failed to meet the contract’s deadline. As a result, all three frigates will be delivered with a one-year delay.

According to the $1.5-bln contract signed in 2006, Russia was supposed to build three Project 11356 Talwar frigates for Indian Navy and deliver them in Apr 2011 (INS Teg), Oct 2011 (INS Tarkash), and in Apr 2012 (INS Trikand). State-led company Rosoboronexport which signed the contract with Indian Navy informed Indian party in Aug 2011 that the deliveries would be delayed. The first ship will be handed over with 12-month delay, the second – with 12-month delay, and third – with 14-month delay.

Breakdown of cruising turbine and its replacement extended the frigate’s trial schedule for 2 weeks. It is unclear how it may affect the general delivery date. It was planned to hand over INS Teg frigate to Indian Navy in spring 2012.

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Naval Today Staff, November 16, 2011; Image: defenceforumindia