About:
- The agreement was signed between Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and Rosoboronexport of Russia. The $500 million deal is for material, design and specialist’s assistance from Russia for the two ships. Balance work will be done by GSL.
- The two frigates will be armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
- Work on the two frigates will start in two years by mid-2020 and is expected to be completed by 2026- 2027.
- India had earlier procured six frigates weighing 4000 tonnes of the same class in two different batches, the Talwar class and the upgraded Teg class.
Recent defence deals between India and Russia:
- This week, Russia was declared the lowest bidder in the Army’s Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD)
- Last month India signed a $5.43 bn deal for five S-400 long range air defence regiments.
- The series of deals with Russia come in the backdrop of looming US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) law.
