Russia launches new Zircon hypersonic missile carrier
Russia has launched a new Zircon hypersonic missile carrier, the frigate of Project 22350 “Admiral Isakov”.
The ceremony of launching the fourth of the Project 22350 frigates took place on September 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg at the Severnaya Verf plant.
It should be noted that the launch took place 11 years after the ship was officially laid down in November 2013, when the ship was scheduled to be completed by 2018.
The Project 22350 frigates are the most modern representatives of multi-purpose ships in the Russian Navy, which are designed to perform a wide range of tasks both in the coastal and oceanic zones.
The frigate is capable of carrying up to 16 Kalibr, Oniks, or Zircon hypersonic missiles.
The ship is protected from air attacks by a 32 VLS cells Polyment-Redut anti-aircraft missile system capable of intercepting air and ballistic targets at a range of up to 150 km.
The ship’s artillery armament is represented by an A-192M 130mm artillery system.
Alongside the helicopter hangar, two 3M89 Palash CIWS with twin 6 barrel 30 mm rotary cannons are mounted on board.
As part of Project 22350, the Russian Navy plans to build eight frigates. In addition to four vessels already launched, four more frigates are at various stages of construction at Severnaya Verf:
- “Admiral Amelko”
- “Admiral Chichagov”
- “Admiral Yumashev”
- “Admiral Spiridonov”
It should be noted that the new frigate will join the Pacific Fleet around 2027, after finishing its construction and testing.
Earlier, Militarny reported that a new Stupinets corvette of the “Molniya” Project 12418 had been launched in Russia at the Vympel shipyard in Rybinsk.
The new boat has the same name as the long-time only Project 1241.1T corvette of the Russian fleet in the Caspian Sea.
