Russian Navy to Order Another 20 Project 12700 Alexandrit-class MCM Vessels Imminently
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Project 12700 mine sweeper Alexander Obukhov
The Russian Navy is planning to order 20 more Project 12700 fiberglass mine sweepers in the imminent future, Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo said. "About 20 Project 12700 mine sweepers are planned to be built for Russia’s Navy in the imminent future," Dygalo said, without specifying the timeframe.
 
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Naval Forces News - Russia
 
 
 
Russian Navy to Order Another 20 Project 12700 Alexandrit-class MCM Vessels Imminently
 
The Russian Navy is planning to order 20 more Project 12700 fiberglass mine sweepers in the imminent future, Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo said. "About 20 Project 12700 mine sweepers are planned to be built for Russia’s Navy in the imminent future," Dygalo said, without specifying the timeframe.
     
Project 12700 mine sweeper Alexander ObukhovThe first Project 12700 Alexandrit-class MCM vessel. Picture: Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard
     
Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Korolyov said earlier that the Navy had signed contracts for the construction of seven Project 12700 mine sweepers and was planning to order more than 40 ships of the type in future.

The contract for the construction of the first three Project 12700 mine sweepers was signed between the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard and the Defense Ministry in 2014. The ships are planned to be delivered to the Navy in 2016-2018. In late 2016, the Navy received the first Project 12700 mine sweeper Alexander Obukhov. The second ship Georgy Kurbatov was laid down in the spring of 2015. The third Project 12700 mine sweeper is planned to be laid down on January 25, 2017.

The Navy’s commander-in-chief ordered to name the third Project 12700 mine sweeper in honor of Hero of the Soviet Union Midshipman Ivan Antonov, who had taken part in the Great Patriotic War.

The ships of project 12700 Alexandrite are a new generation of mine sweepers. The fiberglass hull considerably decreases the weight and extends the life cycle. The warships can fight mines with various flails, tele-guided and autonomous unmanned underwater craft.

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