Article Posted on : - Sep 23, 2011

Design picture of Project 12700 Alexandrite mine countermeasures ship. Photo: Almaz Central Design Bureau.

Brahmand News Service

MOSCOW: Russian Navy on Wednesday received a new-generation mine countermeasures ship, Project 12700 Alexandrite, at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard.

Project 12700 harbour minesweeper was developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau (St. Petersburg).

The ship is designed for mine searching and sweeping at safe distances. It opens a new generation in mine countermeasures ships, according to a news report by JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard.

The new minesweeper has an anti-mine complex with high-efficiency sonars placed both onboard the ship and on remotely-controlled and autonomous submersibles, integrated bridge system, and main battle station (mine countermeasures automated control system).

With a displacement of 800-tonne, the ship's hull is made of monolithic fiberglass and shaped by vacuum infusion and also has perfect manoeuvrability because of effective system of steering propellers.

The new minesweeper is expected to take the sea in 2012.