The aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov," apparently, will not return to sea and will instead be sent to the scrapyard. Most likely, the Russian Navy does not plan to operate ships of this type in the near future. They may be replaced by Project 22350 frigates. This is written by military expert Peter Suchiu in the article "Russia Claims Its Newest Frigates Are "Sea Terminators" Capable of Sinking American Aircraft Carriers" for The National Interest.
Instead, the Kremlin may focus on countering American aircraft carriers using much smaller surface combat ships.
One such ship may be the frigate "Admiral Amelko." The vessel was launched in August 2025 at a shipyard in St. Petersburg. It is the fifth of ten Project 22350 ships.
Technical specifications of Project 22350
- Length — 135 m
- Beam — 16 m
- Draft — 4.5 m
- Displacement — 5,400 t
- Speed — 29.5 knots
- Armament: Palash CIWS, Otvet anti-submarine missile system
Ships of this project carry high-precision Kalibr and Tsirkon missiles. The frigates are capable of detecting and destroying targets in the coastal zone, as well as components of an enemy carrier strike group.
The leadership of the Russian Navy has big plans for "Admiral Amelko."
Suchiu emphasized that the newest frigate will be equipped with the universal shipborne firing system 3S14 (UKSK). In essence, the ship is turning into a "floating missile launcher."
"Admiral Amelko" will join the Russian fleet in 2026, Suchiu suggested. It will carry out missions in the Pacific Ocean, he concluded.
Read more materials on the topic:
- "Keeps people awake at night": TNI analyst explains the reaction in the West caused by the Russian frigate "Admiral Amelko"
- There is an "Otvet": the new frigate "Admiral Amelko" received a ballistic system for destroying submarines
- Carrier of Kalibr and Tsirkon missiles, the frigate "Admiral Amelko," was launched in Russia
