Baltiisk Naval Base (Russia): The Indian Navy today (Apr 19, 2004) added the 'Battle Ax' to its formidable arsenal with the commissioning of stealth frigate 'INS Tabar' in Baltiisk Naval Base, giving a boost to its blue-water capabilities.

"The induction of Tabar will considerably boost the blue-water capability of the Indian Navy," Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command Vice-Admiral Madanjit Singh said at the commissioning of Tabar.

Naval cooperation between the Russian and Indian Navy is ongoing for over three decades and is a "benchmark of our trust", he said.

INS Tabar (The Battle Ax) is the third in the series of three Krivak-class stealth frigates ordered by India in 1997 and built by St Petersburg-based Baltiisky Zavod shipyard. With the commissioning of Tabar, Russia and India have entered a new phase of technological independence.

Speaking at the colourful ceremony at this Russian base on Baltic coast, India's Ambassador to Russia Krishnan Raghunath said the construction of the three unique frigates for India underlines the "dynamic character and direction of Indo-Russian military technical cooperation".

Vice-Admiral Singh did not rule out that India could order three more such frigates from Russia.

"Under the contract we have an understanding that India will have the option of ordering three more ships of the same class. We are waiting to acquire experience of using these ships. At a proper time the naval headquarters will take a decision," Vice-Admiral Singh said.

INS Tabar will set in sail for home on April 30 on an 18,000 nautical miles journey, which will take it to South America and South Africa and will reach home in August.

During its home voyage, INS Tabar will be calling on several ports, captain of Tabar A G Thapliyal said.

Earlier last year, Russia had delivered 'INS Talwar' (The Sword) and 'INS Trishul' (The Trident) under the $ one billion deal signed with Russia in 1997 for the development of three new generation stealth frigates for the Navy on the basis of Krivak project.

The frigates with the displacement of 4,035 tonnes, are armed with the latest hardware available today including Club-N anti-ship cruise missiles, medium range "Shitl-1" air defence system and powerful anti-aircraft gun A-190E "Puma".

Stealth frigates, used for a wide range of tasks, including air defence, anti-submarine warfare, are to be armed with "Brahmos" cruise missiles jointly developed and produced by Russia and India.