Article Posted on : - Nov 18, 2013

MOSCOW (BNS): The Yantar shipyard has begun construction of a new frigate 'Admiral Istomin' which is expected to join Russia's Black Sea Fleet in 2014.

The Admiral Istomin is the fifth in a series of six Project 11356 M, Admiral Grigorovich class frigates, the shipyard is building under two contracts with the Ministry of Defence, RIA Novosti news report said.

The first four ships - Admiral Grigorovich, Admiral Essen, Admiral Makarov and Admiral Butakov - are currently at different stages of completion.

The Project 11356M frigates displace 3,850 tons and are designed to carry out anti-ship, anti-submarine and air defence missions.

The vessels are armed with an eight-cell launcher for Kalibr or Klub anti-ship and surface-to-surface missiles, a 100-mm main gun, two Kashtan gun and missile close-in air defense systems, a Shtil vertical-launch air defense missile system, two torpedo tubes, an anti-submarine rocket system and a Ka-28 or Ka-31 helicopter, it said.

The Severnaya Verf shipyard has also started construction of Admiral Isakov, the fourth in a series of six Project 22350, Admiral Gorshkov class frigates.

The lead ship of the class, the Admiral Gorshkov, is undergoing sea trials while the Admiral Kasatonov and the Admiral Golovko are at various stages of construction at the shipyard.

The Admiral Gorshkov has a displacement of 4,500 tons, a speed of 29 knots, a range of 4,000 nautical miles at 14 knots, and can go 15 days without resupplying.

Its weaponry included a 130-mm A-192 gun, a Kashtan close-in weapon system for destroying incoming shells, eight Oniks 3M55 (SS-N-26) anti-ship missiles, the Shtil I (SA-N-12 'Grizzly') medium-range anti-aircraft missile complex, four 533-mm torpedo tubes, RPK-9 Medvedka-VE (SS-N-29) anti-submarine rockets, and 24 Uragan SAM missiles. It also carries a Ka-27 or Ka-32 helicopter.

The second reconnaissance ship 'Ivan Khurs' of the Project 18280, Yury Ivanov class, is also under construction at the shipyard. The lead ship of the class, the Yury Ivanov, is expected to be delivered to Russia's Northern Fleet by the end of next year, the report said.