Story by TASS // Russian Defense & Technologies Newswire
The Defense Ministry decided toย design antisubmarine ships onย the basis ofย project 22800. Sources inย the ministry told the newspaper the technical characteristics, arms and equipment were being specified.
The antisubmarine ships can operate inย coastal waters ofย the Baltic, Black, Barents Seas and the Seas ofย Japan and Okhotsk, expert Dmitry Boltenkov said:
โThe available antisubmarine ships were built yet for the Soviet fleet. Itย isย time for aย replacement. Karakurt hull isย aย good option for aย future warship. Itย has aย low signature due toย stealth technologies. The ship has modern combat controls, guidance provision and communications. Itย will not take long toย remake the ships. Sonars and antisubmarine weapons, such asย rocket-assisted bomb launchers and Paket-NK toย fight submarines and torpedoes are likely toย replace Kalibr missiles,โ
The sea hunters defend naval bases and coastal waters from submarines and subversions, former Navy Chief-of-Staff Admiral Valentin Selivanov said:
โIfย hostilities begin, they have toย clear the waters ofย the adversary. They also defend ballistic missile nuclear submarines which sail out for combat duty. The hunters will not make itย possible toย intercept our submarines close toย the bases and will thus guarantee aย retaliation strike,โ
The crews ofย the corvettes and antisubmarine ships will beย trained byย one curriculum, except for cruise missile and antisubmarine operators. Itย will save time and money, Boltenkov believes.
The new antisubmarine ships will replace Albatros-class small antisubmarine warfare ships ofย project 1124 which were built for the Soviet Navy inย 1970-1980s. Close toย 90 ships ofย various modifications were produced. The Black Sea fleet still operates six ships ofย project 1124M. Another six are inย the Northern fleet and eight inย the Pacific fleet. The Baltic fleet operates project 1331 ships built inย East Germany.
The ships have a good speed and seaworthiness and continue to defend seaports from hostile submarines. They also escort and defend Russian warships and submarines. The Navy is beginning to upgrade them. The ships will get modernized digital sonars and antisubmarine weapons. The power plants will be replaced. The upgrade will extend the life cycle for many years, however the fleet needs modern antisubmarine ships, the Izvestia said.
