On August 14, the frigate Admiral Amelko of the project 22350, also known as the Gorshkov-class after the first vessel, was launched at the Severnaya (Northern) Shipyard in St. Petersburg. The commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy has announced more to come.
Admiral Amelko is the fifth vessel in a series, which is the only class of ocean-going combat ship developed and produced in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The keel of the frigate was laid in April 2019. Currently, the ship is being equipped on the water. Its commissioning to the Russian Navy is expected by the end of 2027. In 2020 Severnaya has signed an another contract for two more Gorshkov-class frigates. During the ceremony, Russian Navy commander adm. Aleksandr Moiseev said, “We plan to lay the keels of at least two ships of this class as early as 2026, i.e., next year.”
Three more Gorshkov-class frigates are currently under construction at the Severnaya Shipyard: Admiral Chichagov, Admiral Yumashev, and Admiral Spiridonov. Until recently, it was reported that Yumashev and Spiridonov would be completed in a modified version. The changes were mainly related to strengthening the missile armament. This included the installation of 32-cell 3S-14 UKSK launchers for 3M55 Onyx and 3M22 Tsirkon anti-ship missiles and 3M14 cruise missiles, instead of the previously used 16. Meanwhile, according to information posted on advertising posters displayed during the ceremony, it was Amelko that turned out to be the first frigate in the modified version.
Admiral Moiseev also referred to the 22350M project, which has been in development for years: “We are working on a promising ship, which is a distant ocean zone vessel. The technical requirements have been prepared by the Navy, it is currently being implemented by designers, and is in the final stages of technical design. There is certainty that the technical design will be completed on schedule. And with its completion, as part of the next program, we will begin construction of this ship for the Russian Navy.” The Project 22350M frigate is to be larger and even more heavily armed than the Gorshkov-class ships. The program was suspended for financial reasons in 2020, but is now continuing again.
The creator of the 22350 frigate project is the SPKB Bureau in St. Petersburg, known for its design of large surface ships from the Soviet era. It is currently the only type of surface ship integrated with the 3M22 Tircon hypersonic missile system.
