Surface Forces: Finally A New Frigate For Russia

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April 15, 2016: Finally, for the first time since the early 1980s, the Russian Navy has received a new frigate (the Admiral Grigorovich) of the Project 11356M class. The 11356Ms are 4,000 ton ships with a top speed of 56 kilometers an hour, a crew of 200 and armed with eight Klub or Yakhont anti-ship missiles, a naval version of the Bik M3 anti-aircraft missiles system (36 missiles), two close range autocannon for anti-missile defense, four torpedo tubes and a launcher for rocket propelled depth charges and a helicopters. Delivery dates for more of these frigates are up in the air because their power plants come from Ukraine and at the moment Ukraine is not selling because of a territorial dispute.

The 11356M is not a radical new design and is a modified version of the ten Talwar class frigates Russia designed and is building for India. Before this the last class of frigates the Russian navy bought were the Krivaks. From 1970 to the early 1980s forty of these were delivered, mostly to the Russian Navy. During the 1990s Russian ship designers and builders survived because of foreign customers, mainly India, China and Pakistan.

For example by mid-2013 Russia had delivered the three Talwar class frigates India ordered (for $1.6 billion) in 2006. The 4,000 ton P-17 project Talwar's are 124.5 meter (386 feet) long, carry 24 anti-aircraft and 8 anti-ship missiles, 4 torpedo tubes, as well as a 100mm gun, short range anti-missile autocannon, a helicopter, and anti-submarine weapons (depth charges and missiles). The ship has a very complete set of electronics gear, except for a troublesome Indian sonar. There is a crew of 180. All of the Talwars are equipped with 8 Indian BrahMos anti-ship missiles each. The Talwar is a modified version of the Russian Krivak IV design.

The P-17A "stealth" frigates are the same size as the original three Talwars India ordered in the 1990s. The Stealthy Talwars have their superstructure changed so as to reduce the radar signature (making the ship less likely to show up on enemy radars). Improved weapons and electronics are installed as well, making it a more formidable warship than the original Talwars. India is not ordering any more warships from Russia, as it has developed the capability to build what it needs locally. This now includes aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines.