Russia’s Admiral Kasatonov frigate calls at the Turkish naval base of Aksaz.

According to a press release published by Tass on March 3, 2021, the Northern Fleet’s Project 22350 frigate Admiral Kasatonov being on a long-distance voyage has called at the Turkish naval base of Aksaz in the Mediterranean Sea, the Defense Ministry’s press office said.
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Russian frigate Admiral Kasatonov (Picture source: Military News)

“The call will last through March 4. During this period, the crew will replenish food and water supplies and have a rest,” the press office said.

During the voyage to the Mediterranean Sea, the frigate called at ports of Algeria, Greece and Egypt. Turkey is the fourth country in the region that has been visited by the ship.

This is the first long-distance voyage for the Admiral Kasatonov frigate. The ship left Severomorsk on December 30, 2020. As of today, it has covered a distance of more than 12,700 nautical miles.

The Admiral Kasatonov is an Admiral Gorshkov class frigate Project 22350 of the Russian Navy and the second ship of the class. She was laid down on 26 November 2009 and launched on 12 December 2014. She was commissioned on 21 July 2020. Project 22350 was designed by the Severnoye Design Bureau and incorporates use of stealth technology. As of August 2020, ten vessels have been contracted for delivery by 2027.

The Admiral Gorshkov class frigate or Project 22350 has an overall length of 130 m, a beam of 16 m, and a draft of 16 m. They have operational ranges of more than 4,000 miles and a displacement of 4,500 t. The ship is powered by combined gas turbine and gas turbine (COGAG) propulsion systems including two M90FR boost gas turbines of 27,500 shp. (48,800 kW) and two cruise diesel engine of 5,200 shp. (3,900 kW) connected through two shafts. The ship can reach a top speed of 29.5 knots (54.6 km/h; 33.9 mph) with a maximum cruising range of 4,850 nmi (8,980 km; 5,580 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph). She has ana zendurance of 30 days.

The Admiral Gorshkov Class frigate is fitted with 3D air search radars, Puma fire control radars and sonar suites with hull-mounted LF sonar and LF VDS sonar. She is also equipped with Garpun-BAL SSM targeting and SAM control systems.

The Admiral Gorshkov Class frigate is armed with 16 (2 × 8) UKSK VLS (Vertical Launching Systems) cells for Kalibr, Oniks or Zircon anti-ship cruise missiles and 32 (2 × 16) Redut VLS cells for 9M96, 9M96M, 9M96D/9M96DM(M2) and/or quad-packed 9M100 surface-to-air missiles. The armament of the ship also includes 1 × 130 mm Amethyst/Arsenal A-192M naval gun, two Palash CIWS Close-In Weapon Systems, eight 330 mm torpedo tubes for Paket-NK anti-torpedo/anti-submarine torpedoes and two 14.5 mm MTPU pedestal machine guns.

The Admiral Gorshkov Class features an aft flight deck and hangar to carry advanced Ka-27 NATO code Helix helicopters developed for the Russian Navy to conduct anti-submarine warfare.

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