To enhance the air defense capabilities of its naval warships, the Indian Ministry of Defense has signed a contract with russia to acquire the 3K90M shipborne air defense missile system (export name: Shtil-1) along with missiles.
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The agreement was signed with russian JSC Rosoboronexport. The contract is valued at 21.82 billion Indian rupees (approximately $237 million), though the exact number of launchers and missiles has not been officially disclosed. The Indian Ministry of Defense emphasized that the agreement will strengthen the multi-layered air defense architecture of the Indian Navy and highlights New Delhi's defense partnership with Moscow.
The Shtil-1 air defense system (the naval version of the Buk system) was first presented in 2004 and was developed by the Altair Marine Scientific Research Institute of radioelectronics. The air defense missile system may include one to three combat modules, each with 12 MS-487 transport and launch containers, totaling 12 to 36 missiles.
The Shtil-1 system uses 9M317ME anti-aircraft guided missiles. Each missile has a launch weight of 581 kg (1,040 kg in a transport and launch container), with a warhead weighing 62 kg.
The system covers ranges of 2.5–50 km and altitudes from 5 m to 15 km. It can target 2–12 threats simultaneously, launching missiles every two seconds. The system has a 360-degree strike zone in azimuth and covers elevations from 0 to 90 degrees.
The Shtil-1 air defense missile system was installed on Project 11356R Burevestnik frigates, known in India as the Talwar class.
It should be noted that India's Defense Acquisition Council approved the purchase of the Shtil-1 air defense system for the modernization of Talwar-class frigates almost a year ago, at the end of March 2025. Consequently, it took Moscow and New Delhi a full year to finally sign a firm contract.
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