The ongoing Ukraine conflict has no impact on the Indian warships now under construction in Russian shipyards, Navy vice chief S N Ghormade said here on Tuesday.
The deal for two Talwar class stealth frigates was inked in 2018 between India and Russia. The first ship was launched for trials in 2021 and named Tushil. Two more warships of this class are now under construction at Goa Shipyard.
Allaying apprehensions of a setback to the ship construction programme due to Ukraine conflict, Ghormade said it has not hampered schedule. He also said an Indian team is stationed in Kaliningrad, Russia to monitor project and assured ships will be delivered to the Navy as per schedule. As regards achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Ghormade said the plan to build six conventional submarines here is on under Project 75.
On the recent trials of the naval version of French-built Rafale and US-made F-18, he said they were done to prove their capability of operating from aircraft carriers. “Our aim is indigenisation. We have a twin-engine deck-based fighter aircraft plan but it will take some time," the Vice Chief said. The Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) is also working on a Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter.