Context
Recently, INS Trikand played a key role in an anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden, reinforcing India’s commitment to safeguarding international maritime trade and securing vital sea routes.
About INS Trikand
- INS Trikand is a frontline Talwar-class guided missile stealth frigate of the Indian Navy and serves with the Western Fleet under the Western Naval Command, headquartered in Mumbai.
- It is the third and final ship of the second batch of Talwar-class frigates, built at the Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad (Russia) and commissioned into the Indian Navy on 29th June 2013.
- The warship has a displacement of 4,035 tonnes, measures about 125 metres in length, and has a crew of around 180 personnel, including 18 officers.
- Powered by four gas turbines, it can attain speeds of over 30 knots, enabling rapid deployment during maritime operations.
- The frigate is equipped with a multi-layered weapon suite comprising BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Shtil surface-to-air missiles, an A-190 naval gun, 30-mm close-in weapon systems, and anti-submarine torpedoes and rocket launchers.
- Its ‘Trebovanie-M’ Combat Management System integrates the ship’s weapons and sensors, enabling the simultaneous engagement of air, surface, and underwater threats.
- The frigate incorporates advanced stealth technologies that reduce its radar, magnetic, and acoustic signatures, making it less detectable during operations.
- It can operate a Kamov Ka-31 helicopter, primarily for airborne early warning and maritime surveillance.
- INS Trikand strengthens India’s maritime security by safeguarding Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), conducting anti-piracy operations, protecting maritime trade, and supporting stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
