The head of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) Alexei Rakhmanov said that in the first quarter of this year, the Russian Navy will be replenished with the first serial multi-purpose patrol ship of Project 22350 Admiral of the Fleet Kasatonov.

“The next stage of testing will last about another week, after which the ship will prepare for transfer to the fleet. This is the first quarter, ”Rakhmanov said in a comment to RIA Novosti.

Currently, "Admiral Kasatonov" is on state sea trials in the Barents Sea. The crew works out maneuvering, checks the weapons, systems and mechanisms of the ship, including sonar equipment.

In early February, the frigate fired from the anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) vertical launch 3K96-2 "Poliment-Redoubt". The air defense system successfully hit a target missile launched from a small missile ship of the Northern Fleet "Dawn".

Also, at the training grounds in the Barents Sea, the crew worked out the setting of passive interference and false targets by electronic warfare systems (EW). As the press service of the Northern Fleet explains, this weapon provides “defense of the ship from attacks by precision missiles.”

At the end of last year, “Admiral Kasatonov” fired with 3M-14 Caliber and 3M55 Onyx cruise missiles. As the chief of the press service of the Northern Fleet, Captain 1st Rank Vadim Serga, said during the tests, the Caliber rocket launched from the White Sea successfully hit the target at the Chizh training ground in the Arkhangelsk Region.

"Created literally from scratch"

The developer of Admiral Kasatonov is the Northern Design Bureau (SPKB). The ship, which became the second representative of the project 22350, was built at the Severnaya Verf shipyard (St. Petersburg). The lead ship Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov became part of the Northern Fleet on July 28, 2018.

Project 22350 frigates are capable of performing a wide range of tasks in the far sea zone. In particular, they are intended for the protection of ships, communications, counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations. The arsenal of frigates allows them to provide air defense of other ships, support the landing, strike at various ground and sea targets, and carry out anti-submarine defense.

In addition to missile weapons, Project 22350 frigate is equipped with a 130-mm A-192M Armat artillery mount, 3M89 Palma anti-aircraft system (Broadsword), 91P2 anti-submarine system and Package-NK anti-torpedo system.

The total displacement of the ship is 5.4 thousand tons, length - 135 m, width - 16 m, maximum speed - 29 knots, cruising range - up to 4.5 thousand miles, autonomy - 30 days, crew - more than 170 people.

“The high operational characteristics and combat capabilities of the frigate, laid down in its creation by shipbuilding scientists, allow the ship to solve problems in any region of the world's oceans, not inferior to foreign counterparts,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

In an interview with RT, the chief editor of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine Viktor Murakhovsky noted that frigates of project 22350 are capable of "projecting Russian military power in the ocean zone." According to him, they significantly surpass other domestic ships of a similar class (for example, project 11356) in combat capabilities and are completely inferior to foreign models.

“In the frigate of project 22350 almost everything is new. Serial construction of ships was somewhat delayed, because the project was created literally from scratch. There were also questions of import substitution. For example, the power plant was Ukrainian, but they found a worthy domestic replacement. The launch of the serial construction of frigates 22350 is a great achievement of the Russian shipbuilding industry, ”Murakhovsky said.

In a conversation with RT, the founder of the Military Russia portal Dmitry Kornev drew attention to the powerful anti-aircraft weapons of frigate 22350. Thus, the Poliment-Redut long-range air defense system is capable of hitting all types of air targets at a distance of up to 150 km, and in the future, with the advent of a new missile - up to 400 km.

  • The patrol ship of project 22350 Admiral Kasatonov during a rehearsal of the parade in honor of Russian Navy Day in St. Petersburg
  • RIA News
  • © Alexey Danichev

Ammunition "Polement-Reduta" equipped with an active homing head (GOS), which allows you to destroy the target without receiving data from a radar station. The missiles of this anti-aircraft missile system are distinguished by high maneuverability, accuracy and relatively small dimensions.

The defense of frigate 22350 is also responsible for the Palma short-range range, which can intercept targets at ranges of up to 10 km and at an altitude of up to 5 km. Mainly "Palm" is designed to protect the ship from cruise missiles. According to the developer (“KBTochmash named after AE Nudelman”), this anti-aircraft system allows for effective air defense.

“Near and long-range air defense systems are necessary for such a solid ship as frigate 22350 for self-defense and covering other ships in the far sea zone. Actually, this, in fact, is one of the most important functions of patrol ships, ”Kornev explained.

According to expert forecasts, in the near future frigates 22350 may become carriers of 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missiles. According to him, the new patrol ships are equipped with a universal firing complex, which can launch anti-aircraft, cruise and hypersonic missiles.

“One of the main advantages of the frigate of project 22350 is a rather high level of weapon unification. Along with other modern ships of the Navy, he will be able to use the Zircon, whose range exceeds 1 thousand km.

It will be a very formidable weapon that cannot be intercepted, ”Kornev emphasized.

Upgrade platform

By 2025, the Navy should receive a total of six frigates of project 22350. Now, Severnaya Verf is building Admiral Golovko and Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Isakov. In April last year, in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, two more ships were laid at the enterprise - Admiral Amelko and Admiral Chichagov.

According to the Ministry of Defense, these frigates constitute "the fourth generation of domestic guided missile launch vehicles." As noted by the military department, the vessels will become the base "for the further development of the frigates of this project."

According to experts, we are talking about creating modernized versions that will have more impressive ammunition and displacement. The development of updated frigates is carried out by SPKB specialists.

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in the solemn ceremony of laying, docking and launching ships for the Russian Navy during a visit to the Severnaya Verf shipyard
  • RIA News
  • © Alexey Danichev

According to TASS sources, this refers to project 22350M, the construction of which the shipbuilding industry is ready to begin this year. According to the agency, the ammunition of the updated frigate will increase three times - from 16 to 48 missiles. The ship will also be larger and heavier (about 7 thousand tons).

Victor Murakhovsky believes that project 22350 is the optimal platform for creating the latest frigates. In his opinion, taking into account the increase in the number of launching cells, their displacement may amount to 6.5-7 thousand tons. Moreover, the electronic equipment will be similar to that installed on non-modernized ships, the expert believes.

In turn, Dmitry Kornev admits that the 22350M project will receive a universal automated weapon control system, and due to the increase in ammunition in its strike capabilities, it will approach the destroyer.

“Project 22350 and its modernized version are the ships that our Navy really needs. They will allow Russia to maintain a strong presence in the far sea zone. In my opinion, in the coming years they will form the basis of the large-capacity fleet of Russia, ”Kornev summarized.