The first of three missile frigates commissioned by the Indian Navy from Russia's Baltic Shipyard will pass through UK waters later this week en route to Mumbai.

INS Talwar, commanded by Captain Satish Soni, will berth at Potsmouth Harbour on July 6.

INS Talwar has an extensive suite of Indian and Russian sensors, including the indigenous HUMSA sonar and communication suite CCS Mk-II made by Bharat Electronics. The ship will operate the state-of-the-art KA-31 helicopters for airborne early warning.

The ship's weapon suite includes vertically launched long-range surface-to-surface missiles (CLUB-N), 100 mm gun (A 190), long-range

urface-to-air missiles (SHTIL), advanced torpedo launchers (DTA 53), anti-submarine rocket launchers (RBU 6000) and anti-missile defence system (KASHTAN), amongst others.

Its main features are high weapon sensor density, enhanced stealth features and extended reach.

The current INS Talwar is a second incarnation, the first being a Whitby class frigate built by Cammell Laird Shipyard (Plymouth) and commissioned on April 26, 1960.  She earned battle honours in both the 1965 and 1971 conflicts with Pakistan and was part of the task group that launched successful missile strikes on Karachi, Gwadar and Pasni during the 1971 conflict.