Upgraded Russian Frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov to conduct sea trials this year.

The Russian warship Marshal Shaposhnikov will head to sea trials later this year, after completing an overhaul.

The Russian Frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov (Picture Source: U.S. Navy)

On June 18, 2019, the Russian Pacific Fleet said in a press statement that the Marshal Shaposhnikov should complete upgrades later in 2019. The service said, "The Marshal Shaposhnikov is planned to make the first controlling deployments to the sea before the end of this year."

A crew has been formed for the vessel. The Pacific Fleet's press statement noted, "The personnel was selected in compliance with the manning table, considering the ship’s new and considerably expanded armament. Only contract-enlisted personnel will serve aboard the frigate."

Marshal Shaposhnikov is an anti-submarine warship of the Project 1155 Udaloy class. The vessel launched in 1985. Presently, it is being upgraded at the Dalzavod Shipyard in Vladivostok, in eastern Russia, where it will add Kalibr cruise missiles to its arsenal in addition to retaining its anti-submarine warfare suite. The vessel entered the dock in 2015.

After completion of the program, the vessel will be classified as a frigate, making it the first in Project 1155 to receive the reclassification.

Russian media outlet FlotProm, which focuses on maritime news, reported last month that Marshal Shaposhnikov should return to service in 2021 or 2022, citing Vladimir Tryapichnikov, who heads the Navy's shipbuilding department. The rest of the vessels in the class will receive the upgrade package, as well.