Russia launches new hypersonic missile carrier frigate “Tsyrcon”

The Admiral Amelko frigate of Project 22350, also known as the “Gorshkov- class”, was launched at the Severnaya Shipyard in St. Petersburg.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy announced that this is not the last ship in the series, Naval News reports.

The Admiral Amelko is the fifth ship in the series, which is the only class of ocean-going warships developed and manufactured in Russia since the collapse of the USSR. The frigate’s keel was laid in April 2019. It is expected to be commissioned by the Russian Navy by the end of 2027. In 2020, Severnaya signed another contract for the construction of two “Gorshkov-class” frigates. During the ceremony, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, said: “We plan to lay the keels of at least two ships of this class in 2026, that is, next year.”

Three more Gorshkov-class frigates are currently being built at the Severnaya shipyard: Admiral Chichagov, Admiral Yumashev, and Admiral Spiridonov. Until recently, it was reported that Yumashev and Spiridonov would be built in a modified version. The changes mainly concerned the strengthening of missile armament. This included the installation of 32-section 3S-14 UKSK launchers for 3M55 Onyx and 3M22 Tsyrcon anti-ship missiles and 3M14 cruise missiles instead of the previously used 16-section ones. Meanwhile, according to information placed on advertising posters displayed during the ceremony, the first frigate in a modified version was Amelko.

Earlier, USM reported that the modernization of the large anti-submarine ship “Admiral Chabanenko” in the Russian Federation is under threat of failure.