Russian Navy's Admiral Golovko frigate ready for launch.

The second serial-produced Project 22350 frigate Admiral Golovko has been prepared for the launch, a source in the shipbuilding industry told TASS.

Russian Navy Admiral Golovko frigate of project 22350 (Picture source: Twitter LiiTango)

"The Severnaya Verf Shipyard [in St. Petersburg in northwest Russia] has prepared the Admiral Golovko frigate for the launch. A decision on the date will be made by the Defense Ministry," the source said.

According to the source, the ship may be floated out in May.

The Severnaya Verf Shipyard’s press office declined to comment on the information provided by the source. The shipyard is a subsidiary of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC).

Frigates of project 22350 are designated to fight submarines and warships in oceans and seas and to repel air attacks both independently and within formations. The hull of the frigates is flush-decked. It has a three-island superstructure, one mast-turret and one steel funnel. Stealth technologies were used in the construction to make the warship practically invisible for the radars of the potential adversary.

The displacement is close to 4450 tons, the length is 135 meters. Diesel gas-turbine power plant has a capacity of 65000 horsepower. The warship is armed with a new 130mm artillery gun A-192, anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft missiles, including Kalibr and Poliment-Redut. It can carry Ka-27 helicopter or its modifications.

Earlier, the Severnaya Verf Shipyard built two Project 22350 frigates. The Admiral Gorshkov has been in service with the Northern Fleet since July 2018. The Admiral Kasatonov frigate has completed its trials and will be handed over to the fleet soon. The Admiral Isakov is currently under construction at the shipyard.

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