TASS Russian news agency
The source told TASS:
“Helicopter carriers of project 23900 are to be armed with a countermine complex comprising unmanned boats and underwater drones of domestic design. Each ship will carry two boats,”
The unmanned boats will engage sonars and magnetometers to detect and identify sea mines. They will be destroyed by remotely controlled underwater craft.
“The countermine defense will make the warships independently fulfil missions in blue waters without minesweepers,” the source said.
Alexandrite-class minesweepers of project 12700 are armed with Skanda BL-680 boats and unmanned underwater craft to destroy mines.
TASS did not obtain an official confirmation of the report.
It was earlier reported that project 23900 ships would carry reconnaissance and strike drones to support amphibious assault and special operations, expose and destroy low-signature sea craft.
Project 23900 can carry heavy helicopters and a thousand of marines. It has a dock for landing boats. The Ivan Rogov and the Mitrofan Moskalenko were laid in July 2020. The project was designed by Zelenodolsk Bureau.
