Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate

The Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates, also known as Project 22350, are a class of frigate of the Russian Navy. They have been designed by the Severnoye Design Bureau, Saint Petersburg, the lead ship being named after Sergey Gorshkov.

Design
Project 22350 is the effective successor of the Krivak class. Unlike their Soviet-era predecessors the new ships are purposefully designed to perform multiple roles. The ships are to be able to execute long-range strikes, conduct anti-submarine warfare and to carry out escort missions.

Production
The Russian Navy has set a requirement for 20-30 such ships. The design of the ship, developed by Severnoye PKB (Northern Design Bureau) FSUE in St. Petersburg, was approved by Naval Command in July 2003. The plan is to fully replace the older Project 956 Sovremenny class destroyers and Project 1135 Burevestnik class frigates in four Russian fleets.

The lead ship, Admiral Gorshkov (actual name Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov), was laid down on 1 February 2006 in Severnaya Verf Shipyard at St. Petersburg. In late October 2008 the Russian deputy prime minister, Sergei Ivanov, announced that the first ship in the class would be ready by 2011. He said the timely construction of combat ships is a priority task of the Russian shipbuilding industry. The lead ship completion date was announced first as 2009, but later as 2010, and then as 2011. Latest report states that the frigate will join the Russian Navy in November 2013.

On 24 June 2009, during the "МВМС-IMDS 2009" International Naval Expo, the Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, announced that the production of a second Admiral Gorshkov class frigate would begin at Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg by the end of the year. In November 2009 the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St Petersburg announced that it would start the construction of the second ship of the class Admiral Kasatonov on 26 November. The ship was laid down in a ceremony attended by representatives of the Russian Navy, the St. Petersburg administration, and Admiral Igor Kasatonov - the son of the ship's namesake, Vladimir Kasatonov. Admiral Kasatonov is expected to join the fleet in 2014.

The first frigate was floated out of the launch dock on 29 October 2010. The ship was only 40 percent complete and then began to be fitted out. At present, main mechanical equipment and systems providing safe launching has been installed, including a combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAG) powerplant, gear assemblies, drive shafts and screws, and electric power supply facilities. Further works will be performed at the shipyard's fitting quay.

On August 21, 2012, the Severnaya Verf shipyard announched that it had taken out two four-year loans worth RUB 16.23bn (approx. USD 509.88m) from state-owned Sberbank. The money will be used on the construction of the Admiral Gorshkov class.

Between twenty and thirty ships are to be constructed for the Russian Navy. The Northern Wharf Shipyard has thus far announced having received orders for six units.

Export variant
On 3 November 2010, during the international exhibition Euronaval-2010, United Shipbuilding Corporation presented an export version of the frigate, named Project 22356.