India Suspends Talks With Russia On Alexandrit Class Minesweeper Production

India has suspended talks on the licensed production of the  Alexandrit class minesweeper as the country is waiting to obtain the results of the operational evaluation of the first same-type ship in Russia.

"Talks with India on the organization of the licensed production of Alexandrit-class mine sweepers are not under way. The Indian customers are currently waiting for the information on the Project 12700 lead mine sweeper Alexander Obukhov and its operational evaluation," CEO of Russia’s Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard Vladimir Seredokho told TASS.

In 2015, Serodokho had said that India was planning to buy the licnese to build project 12700 mine sweepers and also had said that India needed at least ten ships of this type. 

The Project 12700 Alexandrit-class ship is a new-generation mine sweeper. The ship features a fiberglass hull, which makes it lighter and extends its service life. 

The Project 12700 ship can sweep mines using various sweeps and remote-controlled and self-sustained unmanned submersible vehicles.