Russian nuclear-powered cruiser makes port call in Goa

The Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser will visit the port of Mormugao in the Indian state of Goa on August 6-11, the Russian Embassy in India said.

The flagship of the Russian Northern Fleet, which is returning to its home base on the Barents Sea coast from large-scale naval drills in the Pacific Ocean, will replenish water and food supplies in the Indian port.

Mormugao is the only port on India's western coast that allows visits by nuclear-powered ships.

The Pyotr Veliky will conduct on August 11 a joint PASSEX-type naval exercise with the Indian Talwar class missile frigate INS Trishul. The warships will practice joint maneuvering and carry out several communications drills.

The Russian cruiser already visited Mormugao in January 2009, when it took part in the INDRA-2009 joint anti-piracy naval drills with the Indian Navy.

Russia's largest and most powerful warship, Pyotr Veliky has a displacement of between 24,000 and 26,000 tons, and a speed of up to 31 knots (almost 57 km/h). The ship is 251 meters in length and has a crew of more than 700 sailors.

The ship's main weapons include 20 SS-N-19 Shipwreck missiles, designed to engage large surface targets, and air defense is provided by 12 SA-NX-20 Gargoyle launchers with 96 missiles and 2 SA-N-4 Gecko with 44 missiles.