MOSCOW. Feb 1 (Interfax-AVN) - Founding the cutting-edge Admiral Gorshkov frigate is a crucial event for the Russian Navy and Russia as a whole, Andrei Kokoshin, a State Duma legislator and an ex-Secretary of the Russian Security Council, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"The importance of the event extends outside the Navy, since it is equally crucial for the Armed Forces and Russia as a whole, as well as Russia's military power and national security," Kokoshin said.
He emphasized that the ship would be the first large surface ship to be built in Russia after the breakup of the USSR. "Until now we only completed large surface ships, founded during Soviet times. Russia also built destroyers and frigates for China and India, but it is the first such ship for the Russian Navy," Kokoshin said.
He pointed out that the Admiral Gorshkov would be able to operate in the high seas in almost any part of the World Ocean.
On Wednesday Kokoshin attended the official ceremony of founding the cutting-edge Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov frigate.
The official ceremony took place at the St. Petersburg-based Severnaya Verf shipyard, which won the tender issued by the Russian Defense Ministry Ship, Naval Armament, and Naval Materiel Acquisition Directorate in 2004-2005.
Masorin told reporters earlier that combat capabilities of the frigate were superior to those of previous-generation frigates. He pointed out that the ship would be armed with cruise missiles, capable engaging both coast-based targets and enemy ships.
The Project 22350 frigate has been developed by the Severnoe Design Bureau. It will be the first Russian long-range ship developed after a 15-year break.
According to open sources, the frigate's main armament includes eight ZM55 Oniks anti-ship cruise missile system, the new 130-mm A-192 artillery system, the Medvedka-2 ASW missile system, and the Uragan medium-range air defense system.
The ship is capable of carrying a helicopter.
It has a displacement of 4,500 tons, a length of 130 m, a beam of over 16 m, a range of 4,000 miles, and an unlimited navigation capability.
The frigate is expected to become operational in 2009.
The cost of the frigate amounts to $300 million.
Under the program, the Navy needs about 10-20 Project 22350 frigates by 2015.