According to information published by Arab News on April 6, 2023, the Russian Project 22350 frigate Admiral Gorshkov made history by docking in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
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Project 22350 frigate Admiral Gorshkov. (Picture source: Russian MoD)
Admiral Gorshkov left Murmansk, Russia, on January 4 and traveled to South Africa, where it conducted naval exercises before heading to Chabahar, Iran, for further military exercises. Last month, Russia announced naval exercises with China and Iran in the Arabian Sea, aiming to strengthen ties with both countries.
The ship also held a training drill in the Indian Ocean, focusing on seeking and destroying submarines using its Ka-27 series helicopter. After completing its mission in the Indian Ocean, the ship sailed to Djibouti and then to Jeddah, marking its historic first visit to Saudi Arabia.
Frigate Admiral Gorshkov
The frigate has a displacement of 4,550 tons (standard) to 5,400 tons (full), with a length of 135 meters and a beam of 16 meters. She is powered by a CODAG propulsion system with 2 10D49 cruise diesel engines and 2 M90FR boost gas turbines, producing a total of 65,400 shp (48,800 kW) and allowing her to reach a speed of 29.5 knots (54.6 km/h; 33.9 mph).
The ship has a range of 4,850 nautical miles (8,980 km; 5,580 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) and an endurance of 30 days. The crew complement is 210.
The frigate is equipped with various sensors and processing systems, including air search radars such as the 5P-27 Furke-4 and the 5P-20K "Poliment," surface search radar like the 34K1 "Monolit," and sonar systems such as the Zarya-M and Vinyetka. She also has a combat system known as Sigma-22350.
The ship's armament includes a 130 mm Amethyst/Arsenal A-192M naval gun, 16 (2 × 8) 3S14 VLS cells for Kalibr, Oniks, Zircon anti-ship cruise missiles or Otvet anti-submarine missiles, 32 (4 × 8) 3S14M VLS cells for the same type of missiles, and 32 (4 × 8) Redut VLS cells for surface-to-air missiles like the 9M96, 9M96M, 9M96D/9M96DM(M2), and quad-packed 9M100.
Admiral Gorshkov also has two Palash CIWS systems each with twin Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30 6 barrel 30 mm rotary cannons, 2 × 4 330 mm torpedo tubes for Paket-NK anti-torpedo/anti-submarine torpedoes, and 2 × 14.5 mm MTPU pedestal machine guns. The ship can carry one Ka-27 series helicopter and has a helipad and hangar for it.
