The Russian Navy Admiral Kasatonov Admiral Gorshkov (Project 22350) class sailed out from Severomorsk to the Barents Sea to continue trials, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The frigate earlier tested missile arms in the White Sea. The crew fired Kalibr cruise missile at a coastal target in Chizha range in Arkhangelsk region, as well as Kalibr and Onix missiles at sea targets. The Admiral Kasatonov began trials on November 20, 2019. They comprise several stages. After the acceptance trials are completed, the frigate will join the Navy. It is to operate in the Northern fleet. In October, the frigate sailed from the Baltic to the White Sea to complete running and acceptance trials.
The Admiral Kasatonov is a frigate of the Russian Navy, and the second ship of the Admiral Gorshkov class. The frigate was laid down in Northern Wharf Shipyard in Saint Petersburg on 26 November 2009 and launched in December 2014. The ship is named after Vladimir Kasatonov. In November 2009 the Severnaya Verf shipyard announced that it would start the construction of the second ship of the class Admiral Kasatonov on 26 November. The ship was laid down in a ceremony attended by representatives of the Russian Navy, the St. Petersburg administration, and Admiral Igor Kasatonov – the son of the ship’s namesake, Vladimir Kasatonov. In December 2014, one engine from Admiral Kasatonov was transferred to Admiral Gorshkov.
The Admiral Kasatonov designed to carry out long-range strike, anti-submarine and escort missions in distant maritime zones. The frigate has a displacement of about 4,500 metric tons, a length of over 130 meters (430 feet), a maximum width of 16 meters (51 feet), and a range of over 4,000 miles. The main weapons of the ship are reported to include eight SS-NX-26 Yakhont anti-ship cruise missiles, a new 130-mm gun mount, a Medvedka-2 ASW system, and a Hurricane medium-range air defense missile system. The ship has a helicopter.
The Admiral Gorshkov class, Russian designation Project 22350, is the newest class of frigates being built by the Severnaya Verf in Saint Petersburg for the Russian Navy. The class was designed by the Severnoye Design Bureau and incorporates use of stealth technology. So far, six vessels of the class have been ordered and scheduled for delivery by 2025. The lead ship of the class, Admiral Gorshkov, was commissioned on 28 July 2018. The Admiral Gorshkov class is the successor to the Neustrashimyy and Krivak-class frigates. Unlike their Soviet-era predecessors, the new ships are designed for multiple roles. They are to be capable to execute long-range strikes, conduct anti-submarine warfare and to carry out escort missions.
