India Signs $238M deal with Russia for Shipborne Missiles

India’s Ministry of Defence signed a contract on March 3 with Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport to procure ship-based vertical launch surface-to-air missiles for the Indian Navy’s Shtil-1 air defense system, according to a report by the news agency UNI.

The deal is valued at 2,182 crore rupees, or approximately $238 million, and will supply missiles for several Indian Navy frigates equipped with the Shtil-1 system.

The procurement addresses the need to equip recently delivered and newly constructed frigates with operational missile inventories for their onboard air defense systems. These vessels form part of India’s expanding surface fleet and require modern missile systems capable of countering aerial threats including aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.

According to UNI, the missiles will be used as part of the combat load for four Indian Navy frigates of Project 11356, a class of guided missile frigates designed for multi-role naval operations. The ships are equipped with the Shtil-1 naval air defense system, which uses vertical launch missile cells to engage airborne targets.

Two of the ships that will receive the missiles have already entered service with the Indian Navy. These include the frigate F70 Tushil and frigate F71 Tamal, both constructed at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia and delivered to India in 2024 and 2025.

Two additional frigates in the same class are currently under construction in India. The vessels Triput and Tavasya are being built at Goa Shipyard Limited, reflecting India’s approach of combining foreign defense technology with domestic shipbuilding.

According to the report, the missiles ordered under the contract are likely a variant of the 9M317ME surface-to-air missile, a naval missile designed for the Shtil-1 system. The missile is derived from the Buk family of air defense systems and adapted for ship-based launch platforms.

The Shtil-1 system functions as a medium-range naval air defense system designed to protect surface ships from a range of aerial threats. The system employs vertical launch cells, allowing missiles to be launched rapidly toward incoming targets detected by the ship’s radar and fire control systems.

The 9M317ME missile is designed to intercept aircraft, helicopters, and certain types of guided weapons. By integrating these missiles into the frigate’s combat system, the ship gains a layered defensive capability designed to engage threats before they can reach the vessel.

Project 11356 frigates form part of India’s broader effort to maintain a capable blue-water navy able to operate across the Indian Ocean and surrounding maritime regions. These frigates are typically equipped with a range of weapons including anti-ship missiles, naval guns, torpedoes, and air defense systems.

The acquisition of additional missile stocks ensures that these ships maintain a full operational combat load.