An array of new sophisticated warships, including nuclear –powered submarines, missile frigates and corvettes will soon be built in Russia within the framework of the program aimed at modernizing the country’s Navy. This week saw a river-and-sea-going-class ship laid down at a shipyard in the town of Zelenodolsk in Tatarstan.
The Grad Sviyazhsk missile ship is specifically designed to tackle coast guard, sea piracy and poaching, which rides roughshod over Russia’s bio-resources. Zelenodlsk shipyard spokesman Sergei Lazarev touted advanced characteristics of the warship, which he explained has displacement of 949 tons and is equipped with electronic countermeasure radars.
Earlier, the Zelenodolsk shipyard took part in a tender for the construction of a multi-purpose surface warship, which could successfully deal with naval patrol service, convoy operations and poaching, Lazarev says. The Grad Sviyazhsk is equipped with missiles capable of hitting underwater, surface and air targets, he adds.
The warship, which will be part of the Russian Caspian flotilla, was named after an ancient fortress founded by Tsar Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century. Five such warships will be built at the Zelenodolsk shipyard in the coming months, Lazarev said. The Russian Black Sea Fleet is also in the process of being modernized, with at least 15 sophisticated surface warships and diesel submarines due to be supplied there before the end of 2020. In particular, three missile frigates will be laid down at a shipyard in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad by year-end. Plans to create a most advanced aircraft carrier are also in the pipeline, with Ukraine set to join Russia’s efforts in this direction.
Experts cite a possible cooperation between the two countries’ major shipyards, which they say will help build an aircraft carrier capable of contributing considerably to the Russian Northern Fleet’s defense capability. Meanwhile, a next-generation nuclear-powered submarine was launched from the Sevmash shipyard this summer in a sign that the modernization of the Russian Navy is under way. Pitched as one of the world’s most silent submarines, the Severodvinsk can carry a spate of supersonic cruise missiles and deep-water self-guided torpedoes. A total of 6 such submarines will be launched from the Sevmash shipyard in the months ahead.
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