India starts construction of first locally-built Project 11356 frigate

A Project 11356 frigate of the Russian Navy. The Indian Navy will use mostly Indian subsystems, replacing Russian ones. Photo c/o Royal Navy through Navy Recognition.

Indian shipbuilder Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) conducted its first steel cutting ceremony for the first locally-made Project 11356 frigate for the Indian Navy (IN).

Indian Navy Vice Chief of Staff Adm. G Ashok Kumar led the steel cutting rites held on 21 September 2020.

The local construction of the Project 11356 frigate is part of a larger deal with Russia that included the transfer and completion by Russia’s Yantar Shipyard of two incomplete Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates originally bound for the Russian Navy, and the construction of two new ships in India by GSL.

Due to Russia’s inability to import gas turbine engines for the two incomplete hulls from Ukraine, India will order the engines on behalf of Russia.

The frigates are said to be the largest surface combatant to be built by GSL, allowing it to join other Indian naval shipbuilders and reinforcing India’s shipbuilding capabilities.

Compared to the Russian Admiral Grigorovich-class, the new frigates for the Indian Navy will be using a huge percentage of locally-made subsystems, including a 76mm naval gun, Brahmos anti-ship cruise missile launchers, two 30mm anti-aircraft guns, torpedo launchers and rocket launchers.

Other Indian subsystems will include the combat management system, sonar system and electronic warfare system.


[1] Naval News