Russian Navy commissions first-of-the-class frigate

Authorities

The Russian Navy is set to commission its newest frigate ‘Admiral Grigorovich’ at a ceremony at the Baltic Shipyard Yantar in Kaliningrad on March 11.

The ceremony of raising the St. Andrew’s flag is preceded by successful builder’s and state trials.

Admiral Grigorovich, the lead ship in the class, started builder’s trials in October 2015 with state trials following later in the same month. Back then, it was said the ship would join the Russian Navy by end-November, 2015.

During the state trials, Admiral Grigorovich conducted dozens of rocket, anti-aircraft missile, artillery and torpedo firings. Among others, the ship is equipped with the Russian Kalibr NK cruise missile which caught worldwide attention during Russian attacks against the Daesh in Syria.

The ship’s crew, together with the pilots of helicopters Ka-27 naval aviation of the Baltic Fleet, made more than 50 landings on the the ship’s helicopter landing deck. According to the Russian Navy, the ship sailed more than 20,000 miles during the tests.