MOSCOW. Nov 21 (Interfax) - The number of the Russian Navy's multirole warships carrying precision-guided missile systems designed to strike critical targets will exceed 40 by the end of 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"The construction of multirole ships carrying precision-guided missile systems designed to strike critical infrastructure assets and sea targets, including carrier strike groups and surface action groups, is an important objective. The Admiral Golovko frigate to be armed with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles, is currently undergoing state trials. The number of carriers of long-range precision-guided weapons will exceed 40 by the end of the year," Shoigu said at a Defense Ministry board meeting on Tuesday.
"Advanced missile systems have proven to be highly efficient during the special military operation," Shoigu said.
"Over 270 missile strikes have been delivered, and over 330 sites have been struck. The amount of missiles delivered to armed units has more than tripled this year," he said.
Russia is continuing to build short-range ships, he said.
"Two multirole corvettes and a small missile ship have joined [the Navy]. Three more small missile ships and a mine countermeasures ship should go into service by the end of the year," he said.
Shoigu proposed discussing the implementation of the Russian Navy's Main Command action plan for 2019-2025.