Mumbai: The Indian Navy would get a new punch and capability with induction of three new ships including 'INS Talwar', into the Western Naval fleet.

Addressing reporters on-board INS Mumbai, vice admiral Arun Prakash said INS Talwar was expected to be commissioned in Petersburg in June and would be joining the Western fleet shortly after sailing through the Suez.

The other two vessels INS Trishul and INS Tabar were also expected to be inducted into the fleet shortly, he said.

The other new inductions into the fleet would also include INS Betwa and INS Beas besides INS Shivalik, a frigate, which was recently launched.

Commenting on Kamov 31, a Talwar class ship, he said the induction of the ship would help in detecting approaching aircraft and acting immediately due to its long-range early warning system.

Replying to queries on plans to shift the Western Naval base to Karwar, vice admiral Prakash said Karwar was being developed as an additional base for the command due to congestion at the Mumbai port.

Describing Karwar as being of strategic importance, he said some of the vessels from Mumbai would be shifted to Karwar after it was developed.

To a query on "ADS", he said the keel of the vessel would soon be laid in Cochin and the ship was expected to take around six years to be completely built.

On the Bharat missile programme, he said the programme had been going on as planned and had been installed on various vessels of the Western fleet.

PTI