Frigate Admiral Kasatonov enters Atlantic, marking longest deployment

F.P Report

MURMANSK: Russian Fleet’s press office on Thursday confirmed regarding the completion of tasks by the Northern Fleet’s latest frigate Admiral Kasatonov, it was its first long-distance deployment in the Mediterranean Sea and entered the Atlantic Ocean.

According to the official statement, “The frigate Admiral Kasatonov has entered the Atlantic. Today it has passed through the Strait of Gibraltar westwards accompanied by the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker and the medium sea tanker Vyazma.”

Highlighting the details of the drills, the statement mentioned that the warship’s crew prior practiced anti-submarine warfare tasks, employing a Ka-27PL helicopter and replenished fuel supplies from the tanker.

Project 22350 frigates are anticipated to become the Russian Navy’s most advanced warships. These frigates displace 4,500 tonnes and can build up a speed of 29 knots. Additionally they are armed with Oniks and Kalibr missiles and Poliment-Redut air defense missile systems.

In the Atlantic Ocean, the frigate’s crew will hold a series of shipborne drills. After accomplishing all the assigned missio2ns, the warship will return to the Northern Fleet’s main naval base of Severomorsk, the statement cited.

Noting that, it was most longest-distance deployment that started on December 30 last year. Till now the Admiral Kasatonov has covered a distance of about 17,000 nautical miles and visited the ports of Algeria, Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, Syria and Turkey.

The frigate Fleet Admiral Kasatonov is the second Project 22350 warship built at the Severnaya Shipyard part of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation.

The cutting-edge frigate was laid down in 2010 and floated out in 2014.

Back in 2018, the frigate entered shipbuilders’ sea trials that were conducted in the area of responsibility of the Baltic and Northern Fleets. The Admiral Kasatonov entered service with the Russian Navy on July 21, 2020.