According to USC General Director Andrey Puchkov, the corporation has reached “confident production rates” for the class, which he described as capable of executing a broad range of missions in distant sea and ocean zones. He added that the series is expected to continue in the coming years.
Admiral Amelko is the first ship in the class to be equipped with 24 vertical launch cells for the UKSK missile system, an increase from the 16 cells installed on earlier frigates. This system is capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles, Oniks supersonic missiles, and Tsirkon hypersonic missiles. Shipyard officials state that the vessel incorporates a larger displacement, expanded weapons capacity, and upgraded combat systems compared to its predecessors.The frigate is designed for multi-role operations including air defense for naval groups, land-attack missions, anti-ship warfare, amphibious support, and anti-submarine operations. It also features a helicopter deck for Ka-27 helicopters in various configurations. Technical specifications list a displacement of 5,000 tons, a length of 135 meters, a beam of 16 meters, a top speed of 29 knots, a range of 4,500 nautical miles, and a crew complement of 172.
Construction of Admiral Amelko began in 2015. Following the launch, the vessel will undergo outfitting, harbor trials, and sea trials before commissioning into the Russian Navy. The ship is named after Soviet Admiral Nikolai Amelko, a distinguished naval commander and candidate of naval sciences. The ship’s sponsor is Elena Amelko, the wife of the admiral’s grandson. The Severnaya Verf shipyard is currently building four additional frigates in the series — Admiral Isakov, Admiral Chichagov, Admiral Yumashev, and Admiral Spiridonov — with plans to lay down two more in 2026. The Russian Navy presently operates three completed Project 22350 frigates: Admiral Gorshkov, Admiral Kasatonov, and Admiral Golovko.The launch takes place amid increased demand on Russian shipyards to deliver warships under sanctions and restricted access to foreign-made components. Industry officials report that the class is now outfitted with domestically produced gas-turbine engines and combat systems, replacing earlier reliance on Ukrainian and European parts.
In a separate event, USC’s Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk rolled out the Project 20181 naval weapons transport vessel Akademik Makeev from its covered slipway. Designed by USC’s Almaz design bureau, the vessel will be used to load, unload, and transport various weapons for the Russian Navy once construction is complete and the ship is commissioned.These developments highlight USC’s simultaneous progress on both combat and auxiliary vessels, reflecting the Russian Navy’s emphasis on expanding its blue-water capabilities and logistical support infrastructure.
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