Russia: Navy Needs About 20 Admiral Gorshkov-Class Frigates

Demand of Russian Navy for Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates in the next 15-20 years will be up to 20 ships, press secretary of Severnaya Verf shipyard Olga Vilde told RIA Novosti on Feb 1.

“In the next 15-20 years, Russian Navy will need up to 20 frigates. They will be based on Project 22350 ships equally effective alone and within a task force”, Vilde said.

On Feb 1, Severnaya Verf laid down a keel for third Project 22350 frigate Admiral Golovko for Russian Navy. Admiral Gorshkov, lead ship of the project was put afloat in 2010 and is almost completed. First serial frigate – Admiral Kasatonov – was laid down at Severnaya Verf in 2009.

Attending the keel-laying ceremony, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief ADM Vladimir Vysotsky pointed out that corvette Gremyaschiy was laid down at Severnaya Verf on the same day. As for the admiral, that was a significant event. He added that commanders of all four fleets and Caspian Flotilla present at the ceremony attached a special importance.

On behalf of Defense Ministry, Vysotsky expressed satisfaction of the fact that Severnaya Verf shipyard had accepted all defense orders.

“We are confident that all of them will be executed on time. Those orders are quite big, so the shipyard will need enlargement”, noted the Navy CinC.

The admiral added that the newly keel-laid frigate Admiral Golovko would serve at Northern Fleet.

According to Olga Vilde, present-day frigates are taking dominance in most foreign navies and in export programs of leading sea powers – Great Britain, France, and Germany. As for the shipyard’s press secretary, designing and construction of new frigates imply a change-over to modular method including wide cooperation with foreign industries.

Displacement of Project 22350 frigate is 4,500 tons; length is 130 meters; fuel range is over 4,000 miles; navigability is unlimited.

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Naval Today Staff , February 06, 2012