What you need to know: The Russian Navy deployed its advanced Project 22350 frigate, Admiral Golovkomarking a significant addition to its naval capabilities as part of upgrades to older ships.

-As the first frigate equipped with the Tsirkon hypersonic missile, Admiral Golovko poses a formidable threat thanks to its versatile strike capabilities, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) prowess, and advanced missile systems, including the Kalibr-NK and Oniks cruise missiles.

-Despite his need for support from the tanker Vyazma during long missions, Golovko demonstrates the importance Russia places on maintaining naval presence and projecting power in strategic regions, thereby strengthening the country’s maritime ambitions in the Atlantic and beyond.

Russia’s most dangerous frigate: Admiral Golovko heads to the Atlantic

Even as the flagship aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy Admiral Kuznetsov and Kirov class battle cruiser Admiral Nakhimov are both sidelined and undergoing respective renovations, the Kremlin this week deployed what could be its most dangerous warship. Instead of a floating joke like its aircraft carrier or an obsolete ship – which is really the best way to describe a 21st century battlecruiser – the Russian Navy’s Project 22350 frigate Admiral Golovko is a surface combatant to be feared.

Tass, Russian state media reported Friday that Admiral Golovko – the third Admiral Gorskhkov class The guided-missile frigate, named after Soviet Navy Admiral Arseny Grigoryevich Golovko, has begun its first overseas deployment.

“Today, a group of ships of the Northern Fleet left the Severomorsk harbor and began its long-distance deployment. The ships of the group set a course towards the Atlantic Ocean through the designated areas of the Barents Sea The group includes the frigate. Admiral Golovko carrying long-range precision weapons and the medium tanker Vyazma. For the frigate that entered service with the Russian Navy in December last year, this is the first long-range deployment,” the press service of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy said in a statement.

Showing the flag of Saint Andrew

The Kremlin has revealed the planned travel itinerary or port visits, but over the next few months, Admiral Golovko will take part in a long-range deployment intended to “demonstrate the Russian flag and ensure Russia’s naval presence in important operational areas of the World Ocean,” Tass said.

The crews of the frigate and the tanker have prepared for this deployment for several months, and in May she conducted surface-to-air missile firing exercises and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercises in the Barents Sea.

“During the ship’s operation within the Fleet forces, it was deployed to sea on numerous occasions and the frigate’s equipment and armament have proven their reliability,” Frigate said. Admiral Golovko Commander, captain 2nd rank Andrey Slavin. “The frigate has successfully tested all types of weaponry, including long-range precision missiles. Currently, the crew is ready to fully accomplish all assigned goals in all areas of the World Ocean.”

The ship was laid down in February 2012 and launched in May 2020, and was the first ship in the class to be equipped with a domestic power plant, rather than one imported from Ukraine. Admiral Golovko was commissioned into the Russian Navy on December 25, 2023, in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Small but capable Russian warship

Designated as frigatesProject 22350 warships displace 5,400 tons at full load and can reach speeds of 29.5 knots. The warships carry a crew of 210 sailors but have an endurance of just 30 days – that’s why Admiral Golovko will undertake the journey around the world accompanied by the tanker Vyazma.

Despite the apparent Achilles heel of having to rely on the tanker, the Admiral Gorskhkov-class guided missile frigates should still be considered very capable warships.

Project 22350 frigates are designed for multiple roles and are capable of executing long-range strikes, conducting anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and performing escort missions for larger ships. Frigates are armed with Kalibr-NK and Oniks cruise missile systems as a basic strike weapon and each has sixteen (2 x 8) 3S14 VLS cells.

VLS cells can also be used to launch the Otvet anti-submarine missile. Additionally, the frigates are equipped with thirty-two (4 x 8) Redut VLS cells capable of launching the 9M96 and updated versions of surface-to-air missiles. Future ships will see this number double to thirty-two (4 x 8) VLS 3S14 cells, transforming the frigates into floating missile trucks.

Other armaments include a pair of Palash Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS), each equipped with Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30 6-barrel 30mm rotary cannons; and 2 x 4 330mm torpedo tubes for Paket-NK anti-torpedo/anti-submarine torpedoes.

Furthermore, Admiral Golovko is the first frigate of the class to be armed with the Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic missile. This could make it one formidable opponentand which should be taken seriously.

Experience and expertise of the author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a writer based in Michigan. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites with more than 3,200 articles published during a twenty-year career in journalism. He writes regularly on military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing writer for Forbes and Liquidation Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can send an email to the author: (email protected).

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