Frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" project 22350

The Navy is destined only for the most developed countries in the military and industrial sectors. You can buy a ship, but you will not be able to create all the necessary infrastructure for it. It is not surprising that the state of the shipbuilding industry in our country caused deep discouragement among the sailors: new ships were not built, the old ones gradually developed their resources. Fortunately, the situation gradually began to improve. A vivid illustration of this is the frigate Admiral Gorshkov.

It was launched on October 29, 2010. The event is unique in that it is not only the first ship launched after the collapse of the Union, but also the first sample of this kind of equipment that was designed "from scratch" without using Soviet developments.

About the history of creation

Immediately after the country had money to deploy a new shipbuilding program, the submarines of projects 955, 885 and 667 were laid and launched. Soon the surface ships appeared. The new frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" project 22350 was created by CB Severny. The main designer of the project was PM Shrayko. The ship was laid in 2006. As expected, the first frigate project 22350 was built much longer than expected, but still the shipbuilders managed to meet the deadlines, despite all the difficulties.

The project of the new ship was created and approved in 2003. When the state tender was announced for its construction in 2005, there were three large performers at once who wanted very much that the so-called "Northern shipyard", "Yantar" and "Sevmashpredpriyatiye" did not get such a tasty piece. In the end, the right of construction remained for the St. Petersburg "Northern Shipyard". As practice showed, this was the right decision.

The importance of the project 22350 ships for the defense capability of the country

No one will be surprised by the words that the coastline of our country differs both in its extent and in its complex relief. The problem of our fleet is that it includes many morally and technically obsolete ships that, in case of a massive attack by a probable enemy, simply can not protect such a huge area, nor even interact normally with each other and other branches of the Russian Navy. The frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" against this background is in a favorable position, since it is a multipurpose combat unit.

Thus, in the shortest possible time, Russia needs to launch as many modern Coast Guard ships as possible equipped with effective missiles and RCPs. This will build a normal defense of the coast, without resorting to the use of more expensive weapons. Today, the US is on a similar path. The military leadership of this country just the same focuses on the construction of a large number of relatively inexpensive and functional ships designed to protect coastal waters.

It should be noted that the Black Sea Fleet needs them especially. The fact is that this our group is located at a great distance from other combat flotillas. During the "management" of Ukrainians in the Crimean land, there are practically no normal air defense and missile defense systems. And those of them who still remained, can not effectively cover up the remaining territory from a possible enemy strike. The only ship that more or less meets the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, GvRKr project 1164.5 "Moscow". Not only that, he is alone, so also the combat systems of the ship clearly do not meet modern requirements.

It is equipped with the S-300F "Fort" SAM system, which is completely unified with the "land" S-300PS surface-to-air missile system. The maximum height of the target is 27 kilometers. At the same time, you can capture up to six air targets at a distance of 90 kilometers. As you can see, our air defense forces in the new region of the Federation can not boast of anything outstanding. It was to correct this situation that intensive construction of new types of ships began in recent years, and one of the most impressive is the frigate of Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov.

Distinctive features

The ship is good in that it is designed to work both in the near and far sea zone, as well as for conducting combat operations under ocean conditions. The displacement is approximately 4,500 tons, the longest is at least 130 meters, the width of the hull at the widest point is 16 meters. The length of the course is more than four thousand nautical miles, the season of navigation is unlimited. In addition to powerful artillery and missile weapons, there is a platform for the adoption of a combat helicopter (Ka-28).

Among other things, the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" is unique in that it uses not less than 30% of completely new technologies and materials. Competing in that with the Americans, the stern superstructures and felling were created using the "stealth" technology, which ensures a strong dispersion of radar waves, guaranteeing the ship a high degree of stealth. Not surprisingly, the degree of secrecy in its design was "at the level": only the designers and shipbuilders knew about the appearance of the Admiral. The press did not leak until the launch.

Onboard armament

The frigate Admiral Gorshkov (photo of 2014 proves this convincingly) carries an impressive combat complex on its board. It includes a whole battery of anti-ship missiles (Moskit), an artillery installation with a caliber of 130 mm (a rate of 30 rounds per minute), as well as an anti-aircraft missile battery and an anti-submarine missile system. Thus, the frigate of project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov is distinguished by its impressive security and is able to stand up for itself in any conditions.

Anti-submarine defense of a ship

The anti-submarine weapons consist of two launching complexes, Medvedka-2. They are located in the middle of the ship. Each launcher is loaded with four missiles with active guidance. The hydroacoustic complex ZARYA-M is responsible for the detection of enemy submarines. Subsequently, it is planned to replace the station of this type with its improved analogue, VINETKA-M.

These devices include a flexible antenna (GPBA) and a radiator, which can provide effective detection of low-noise submarines of the latest generation. Among other things, the same systems allow effective detection of enemy torpedoes and surface ships at a distance of up to 60 km. Thus, the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" with the help of a conventional torpedo attack is almost impossible to knock.

Defense against Combat Aviation

The real highlight of the ship is the installation of 3C14U1 (UKSC). Missile, of course. This complex is unique in its "omnivorousness": it is possible to replace ammunition at any time, as a result of which the specification of the ship will also change. In addition, it is worth dwelling on the characteristics of the anti-aircraft installation, "Reef-M". Let's say that in the press it is often called "Polimen-Redut".

So that's it. With some impressive fighting characteristics, the "Reef" does not differ, but it is completely unified with the land "Vityaz". Of course, this is on hand to both sailors and their land "colleagues", since ammunition can be replenished almost everywhere, where there are parts of the anti-aircraft defense. In order not to leave flying enemies a chance, the ship also has a radar of a new type, which is characterized by increased characteristics in the field of early detection of aircraft.

For this, four phased arrays (AFAR) "Polymet" answer immediately. Specialists believe that in the future this type of ships will be installed systems of unified fire control, as well as installations of A-192 and ZAK "Palash". By the way, the latter are already installed on the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" (photo of which is in the article). Their task is to cover the regular on-board helicopter Ka-28 at its take-off and landing. All available combat elements operate in a single circuit, providing the frigate with reliable protection against enemy combat aircraft and helicopters.

The protective circuit of the ship can, for one "approach", capture and carry 16 flying objects at once. The firing at their interception - up to one missile per second. If even someone succeeds in breaking through, frigate 22350 Admiral Gorshkov will almost certainly drive him from artillery systems. The combination of an automatic cannon caliber 130 mm and an automatic guidance system - a terrible thing. Do not forget about the powerful onboard EW, which is able to almost completely suppress the computer guidance system of enemy missiles. All this not only significantly increases the level of security of the "Admiral", but also allows drastically reducing the load on the crew in a combat situation.

And more about anti-aircraft weapons

Not so long ago it became known that the development of a new small-sized system intended for the protection of warships with a displacement from 1,000 to 4,500 thousand tons is in full swing at the Altair Research Institute. The new antiaircraft gun will be built on the basis of the well-proven SAM "Reef-M". It is assumed that it will use 9M96E missiles, featuring active self-guidance, as well as an inertial target capture system. The combination of these systems will create a truly formidable weapon capable of intercepting very maneuverable aircraft with a high probability of their destruction.

This is what the Frigate Admiral Gorshkov differs from its competitors. The photo of the ship is able to immediately prove to the experts that it is able to easily cope with the majority of the combat aircraft of the probable enemy.

Power point

In general, there is nothing surprising in it: a diesel gas-turbine plant, whose capacity is about 65,000 hp. It belongs to the CODAG type, the diesel engine itself belongs to the DGTA-M55MP family (all in one package). Such a design solution allowed to combine both high maximum power and the best economy when driving at low speed (the running tests of the frigate Admiral Gorshkov proved this clearly).

The gas-turbine plant is located in the bow section, diesel is also located traditionally, at the stern.

Detailed description of the diesel unit

The manufacturer of well-proven 10D49 diesels is the Kolomna plant. The power of each is 3825 kW (5200 hp), they are fully automated. At each - two-speed gearbox, which is responsible for the separate or joint operation of the two engines. Finally, there is a local control system. The gas turbine units, GTE M90FR, were developed by two renowned enterprises - NPO Saturn and NPP Zarya-Mashproekt.

Without these companies, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov itself would not have been possible. 2014 proved that the leadership of the fleet is very grateful to them, since both enterprises received generous government orders. It remains to be hoped that such a favorable trend will continue in the future.

Only on some diesel engines the power plant of the ship will give out 10400 hp at once, which is quite enough to disperse up to 10-13 knots. If diesel engines and turbines work simultaneously, the power grows immediately to 64,800 hp, so that a 4,000-tonne displacement vehicle is accelerated to 30 knots. Why do we all listed in detail? Why do you think such a performance of ship propulsion systems was not used in the ships of the Soviet fleet? It's simple: no one wanted to take responsibility for developing such a complex system. The system, which was supposed to be not only powerful, but also extremely reliable.

In this area, Russian shipbuilders managed to bypass their Soviet colleagues, which is pleasing, since the ship "Admiral Gorshkov" is a real "first-born" of post-Soviet shipbuilders. In this it is similar to a T-50 fighter. This aircraft was also developed "from scratch" by Russian developers.

Some results

Generally speaking, the "Admiral of the fleet of Gorshkov" is a frigate, in many respects a fairly typical representative of the Soviet-Russian shipbuilding school. However, for the first time in the history of our fleet on a surface ship, rocket weapons are placed in mines. By the way, our American "colleagues" have long since come to the need for this kind of deployment of this type of armament, since in this case it is possible to liquidate the "zoo" of launching facilities, which is so characteristic of the Soviet fleet. This will significantly reduce the cost of ship operation, since it will be necessary to train far fewer specialists.

Alas, but the Russian Navy until 2010 did not have any unification in this area. Moreover, each (!) Missile system had its own specific application. The last fact practically put an end to the idea of creating multipurpose ships. If our shipbuilding industry follows the path that Admiral Gorshkov has wrought, the fleet will finally receive a truly universal, flexible and powerful armament that can be effectively used throughout the Russian coastline.

Because of what "Admiral Gorshkov" for so long put into operation?

The main problem, because of which we constantly had to postpone the deadlines, was a chronic delay with the delivery of individual systems. Yes, the cruiser Admiral Gorshkov built the St. Petersburg shipyard, but all the weapons, radar systems and hydroacoustics were provided by completely different contractors! It is on them and lies the lion's share of responsibility for postponing the delivery of the frigate. In particular, many problems were posed by systems of anti-aircraft missiles and hydroacoustics. In addition, a couple of times the delivery of components for a new artillery system failed, without which the frigate 22350 Admiral Gorshkov would have been little more than ships of a similar class.

How does the Russian Admiralty solve the problem of shortage of ships?

In principle, there is only one correct solution, which is actively used today. It's about hurrying "reproduction" of ships that could operate in one tactical niche. Since at the moment the frigates of project 22350 are not built fast enough, it was decided to activate the construction of cheaper ships belonging to the family 11356 (six of them were previously purchased by India). Despite their unification, they will be used in different fleets. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to completely avoid the confusion in the nomenclature even now. Consoles only that it will not be as confusing as it was in the times of the Union.

If we estimate the degree of readiness of the frigates of project 22350, intended for the re-equipment of the Black Sea Fleet, we should say the following. In total, it is planned to launch six ships. The frigate Admiral Grigorovich is expected to be commissioned in the second half of 2015. His "brother", "Admiral Essen", will begin to plow the waters of the Black Sea in 2016. The ship "Admiral Makarov" is unlikely to be ready before 2017.

Even if we take into account the sharply increased state allocations to the shipbuilding industry and the loading of branch enterprises in the Crimea, re-equipment of the fleet risks a significant drag on. Thus, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, whose tests have shown impressive results, is in many ways the only worthy alternative. It remains only to hope that domestic industry will stand the pace.

Conclusion

Whatever the case, the construction of the frigate Admiral Gorshkov clearly demonstrates the sharp activation of our shipbuilding industry. Never since the beginning of the 1990s the fleet has received so many new ships. That's just because of the frequent disruptions in supplies, the Navy is getting more and more frigate-type frigates, which can often be used only in one tactical niche. As you can imagine, this state of affairs is not too good for the overall defense capability of the country.

In some respects, the military itself is also to blame for this, which is by no means always ready to provide manufacturers with an intelligible and detailed TK. In addition, even when the construction of the frigate Admiral Gorshkov was being carried out, often corrections were made to its external appearance, which in other countries can not be. There are also problems with newly developed projects for new classes of ships, for which no adequate armament has simply been created. Adjusting them "on the fly" leads not only to a catastrophic rise in the cost of construction, but also to stretching the deadlines for delivery to exorbitant values.

From the plant to the plant projects are also transferred, bypassing a huge number of bureaucratic obstacles. The adjustment of equipment, programs and adjustment of projects to the features of each shipbuilding enterprise is carried out almost in manual mode. The situation is especially deplorable in the Pacific Fleet, where ship repair enterprises either did not exist at all, or they do exist, but are equipped with old-fashioned obsolete equipment, which is simply not suitable for modern frigates. The combination of all these problems over time can lead to very unpleasant consequences.

In principle, there are more pleasant news. So, the sanctions of the West will not have any influence on the re-equipment of the fleet, since the construction of ships is carried out using exclusively domestic technologies. Of course, the import of certain technological solutions could solve many problems, but this option is almost unrealistic in the light of the current foreign policy realities. Anyway, but the cruiser Admiral Gorshkov is a real pride of our shipbuilding.