Two submarines are now at the Admiral Teyskiya Verfi shipyard in St Petersburg for modernisation. The upgrade includes arming the submarines with the 3M-54EI missile, developed by the Novator Design Bureau, the weekly said.

A 10th submarine of this class that is under construction at the yard is also expected to have a missile-firing capability fitted. Vertically-launched versions of the 3M-54EI will arm three improved Krivak III (Project 1135.6)-class frigates that are under construction for the Indian Navy at the Baltiisky shipyard in St Petersburg. Each frigate will boast eight 3M-54E anti-ship missiles.

The hull of the first ship is already built. The keel of the second is due to be laid this week.

According to Vladimir Yukhnin, the director general of the Northern ProjectDesign Bureau (SPKB), the bureau designed the frigate to meet the demands of India's naval doctrine.

Officials said the 3M-54EI has a range of upto 3000 kms. The larger part of the missile's trajectory is flown at high subsonic speeds. At about 60 km from the target, the missile's third solid-propellant stage starts. For its final approach the missile travels at about 1,100M/sec flying about 5 m above the water.

Weighing 1,570 kg, the missile has a 450 kgs high-explosive warhead, the report said.