Russian Navy To Get 12 Warships, 8 Combatant Craft, 23 Auxiliary Vessels By Yearend: Defense Minister

The Russian navy will be receiving 12 warships, eight combatant craft and 23 auxiliary vessels by the end of this year.

"The Navy is planned to receive this year 12 warships, eight combatant craft and 23 auxiliary fleet vessels. Of these, six warships and four vessels are being built at enterprises of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC)," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted as saying by Tass during a teleconference at the military department Monday.

The minister said previously that the Russian Navy’s combat strength would be replenished this year by seven warships and two submarines. In 2015, the plans for the Navy reinforcement were not fulfilled - USC alone failed to deliver on time seven warships and vessels.

Since the beginning of the year, two frigates of Project 11356 - the Admiral Grigorovich and the Admiral Essen - have been made operational within the Russian Navy. The Navy is expected to receive another ship of this class - the Admiral Makarov - in the third quarter of the year. In addition, the head frigate of Project 22350 - the Admiral Gorshkov, the construction of which started in 2006, is to be delivered to the Navy in November. The large landing ship Ivan Gren that was laid down in 2004 is also to be delivered to the Navy by the end of the year.

Two non-nuclear submarines of Project 636.3 (Varshavyanka-class) will also be commissioned. Thus, the delivery of the first series of this class of submarines (comprising six boats) will be completed, All of them will be commissioned with the Black Sea Fleet. The construction of the Varshavyanka class submarines at the Admiralty Wharves shipyard will be continued - six submarines of this class are to be built for the Pacific Fleet.

Another series of warships and auxiliary vessels are being built for the Russian Navy - from Project 20380 corvettes to rescue vessels and armament support ships. The head mine countermeasures ship of Project 12700 - the Alexander Obukhov new-generation minesweeper that has a monolith composite material hull is to be delivered to the Navy by this autumn.