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World Navies Today - Russian Surface Combatants
World Navies Today - Russian Surface Combatants
State of the Russian Fleet: Due to continued political, economic and societal chaos in
Russia, the Fleet is in a badly deteriorated state. Even those ships that remain in
commission and theoretically operational are generally unable to deploy, due to lack of
trained crews and lack of funds to buy fuel and stores. In general maintenance is minimal
or nonexistent, and there are no funds to conduct much-needed overhauls, even for major
fleet units. Many ships have been abandoned when repairs or refits came due.
This list identifies those units believed to remain operational, but most of these units are
unable to deploy for the reasons cited above. Ships in refit are listed only when there is a
reasonable chance of them returning to service. Ships laid up pending refit generally are
listed, as they could return to service if funding became available.
Many ships, especially auxiliaries, have been operating in commercial or charter freight
or passenger service to raise operating funds. These are listed as active units, as they
could rapidly return to naval roles if required.
Aircraft Carrier
Large Cruisers
Cruisers
Destroyers
Frigates
Aircraft Carrier
Kuznetsov multirole aircraft carrier (1 ship)
(Project 1143.5,Orel)
Displacement: 67,000 tons full load
Dimensions: 270 x 35.41 x 9.14 meters/885.8 x 116.2 x 30 feet
Extreme Dimensions: 306.45 x 72.3 x 10 meters/1005.4 x 237.2 x 32.8 feet
Propulsion: Steam turbines, 8 boilers, 4 shafts, 200,000 shp, 30 knots
Crew: 1960 + 626 air group + 40 flag
Radar: MR-710 Fregat-MA/Top Plate 3-D air search, 2 MR-320M Topaz/Strut Pair 2-D
air search, Fly Trap aircraft landing control
Sonar: Zvezda-2 suite with MGK-345 Bronza/Ox Yoke hull mounted LF
Fire Control: 4 MR-360 Podkat/Cross Sword SA-N-9 SAM control, 8 3P37/Hot Flash
SA-N-11 SAM control
EW: Sozbezie-BR suite with Wine Glass intercept, Flat Track, Bell Push intercept, Bell
Nip, Cross Loop D/F, 2 PK-2 decoy RL, 10 PK-10 decoy RL
Aviation: full angled flight deck with skijump, 153 x 26 x 7.2 meter hangar, 2 elevators,
no catapults; 52 aircraft maximum
Armament: 12 VLS P-500/SS-N-19 Granit/Shipwreck SSM, 24 Kinzhal VLS systems
(192 9M-330/SA-N-9 Gauntlet SAM), 8 CADS-N-1/Kortik CIWS systems (256 9M-
311/SA-N-11 Grison SAM; 1 dual 30 mm CIWS per mount (8 CIWS guns total)), 6 30
mm AA, 2 RPK-5/UDAV-1 Liven anti-torpedo RL
Concept/Program: The first true aircraft carrier designed and built by the Soviet Union.
Intended to operate navalized versions of several standard Soviet tactical aircraft, using a
skijump instead of catapults. In addition to a heavy SSM battery she carries the largest
self-defense SAM suite ever fitted in a ship. Machinery is essentially the same as the Kiev
class, and has a proven record of unreliability. The Mars-Passat/Sky Watch phased array
air search radars were a failure and are believed to be inoperable.
Made delivery voyage from Black Sea to Northern Fleet in 1991, although her electronics
and combat systems were not yet complete at the time. Spent 1992-1994 in trials and
flight training; major overhaul 1995 and made a brief Mediterranean deployment 12/95 to
3/96. Was inactive awaiting overhaul until November 1998. Russia has no facilities with
which to carry out major repairs on this ship, as the building yard is in the Ukraine.
Reserve Classes: The modified Kiev class aviation (VSTOL) cruiser Gorshkov is in
shipyard hands, pending possible conversion to a STOVL carrier for India, or a helicopter
carrier for Russia. However, due to financial realities, it seems unlikely that either plan
will come to fruition.
Discarded Classes: The three Kiev class aviation cruisers were inoperable by 1990; all
have been stricken and sold for scrapping. Minsk has been resold to interests in mainland
China for conversion to an entertainment complex and casino. Both Moskva class
helicopter cruisers were inoperable by 1990; both have been scrapped.
Large Cruisers
Kirov/Ushakov class multirole large cruisers (1+1 ships)
(Project 1144.2, Orlan)
Displacement: 25,860-26,396 tons full load
Dimensions: 251.2 x 28.5 x 10.33 meters/824.1 x 93.5 x 33.9 feet
Propulsion: CONAS: 2 KN-3 cruise reactors, steam turbines, approx. 24 knots; 2 boilers,
boost steam turbines; 4 shafts, 140,000 shp, 32 knots
Crew: 710 + 15 flag
Radar: MR-800 Voshkod/Top Pair 3-D long range air search, 1 MR-710 Fregat-
MA/Tope Plate-B 3-D air search
Sonar: Polinom suite with Orion/Horse Jaw bow mounted LF, Platina/Horse Tail LF
VDS
Fire Control: 2 Volna/Top Dome SA-N-6 SAM control (1 in Velikiy, 2 MPZ-301
Baza/Pop Group SA-N-4 SAM control in Nakhimov only, 2 MR-360 Podkat/Cross Sword
SA-N-9 SAM control in Velikiy only, 6 3P37/Hot Flash SA-N-11 SAM control
EW: Kantata-M suite with Foot Ball, Bell Bash, Bell Nip, Bell Thumb (all intercept
and/or jammers), Bell Push intercept, 2 PK-2 decoy RL, 12 PK-10 decoy RL in Velikiy
only.
Aviation: aft helicopter deck with hangars for 3 Ka-25/26/27 series helicopters
Armament: 20 VLS P-500/SS-N-19 Granit/Shipwreck SSM, 12 B-303A VLS systems
(96 S-300MPU/SA-N-6 Fort/Grumble SAM), 2 Osa-MA SAM systems (40 4K-33/SA-
N-4 Gecko SAM) in Nakhimov only, 16 Kinzhal SAM systems (128 9M-330/SA-N-9
Gopher SAM) in Velikiy only, 6 Kortik/CADS-N-1 CIWS systems (192 9M-311/SA-N-
11 Grison SAM; 1 dual 30 mm CIWS per mount (6 CIWS guns total)), 2 dual
130mm/70cal DP, 10 21 inch torpedo tubes (20 torpedoes and/or RPK-6/SS-N-16
Vodopod/Stallion ASROC), 1 RPK-5/UDAV-1 Liven ASW RL, 2 RBU-1000 anti-
torpedo RL
Disposals/Reserve: Ukraine intended to completed the final ship, formerly Lobov, for its
own fleet, but has now offered to sell the ship back to Russia.
Discarded Classes: All 'Kresta-I' class surface warfare cruisers and 'Kresta-II' class
ASW cruisers have been stricken, the last by 1994. Most have been sold to foreign
shipbreakers. Of the 'Kynda' class surface warfare cruisers, all were stricken 1991-1993,
except for Admiral Golovko, discussed above.
Destroyers
Admiral Chabanenko ('Udaloy-II' class) large multirole
destroyer (1 ship)
(Project 1155.1, Fregat)
Displacement: 8,900 tons full load
Dimensions: 163 x 19.3 x 8 meters/534.8 x 63.3 x 26.2 feet
Propulsion: COGAG: 2 M62 cruise gas turbines, 15,000 shp; 2 M8KF boost gas
turbines, 45,000 shp; 2 shafts, 60,000 shp, 29.5 knots
Crew: 296
Radar: MR-700 Fregat-A/Top Plate 3-D air search, MR-320M Topaz-V/Strut Pair
air/surf. search
Sonar: Zvezda-2 suite with MGK-345 Bronza/Ox Yoke bow mounted LF, Ox Tail LF
VDS
Fire Control: 2 MR-360 Podkat/Cross Sword SA-N-9 SAM control, 2 3P37/Hot Flash
SA-N-11 SAM control, Garpun-BAL SSM targeting
EW: Start-series suite with Wine Glass intercept, Bell Shroud intercept, Bell Squat
jammer, 2 PK-2 decoy RL, 10 PK-10 decoy RL
Aviation: aft helicopter deck and hangar for 2 Ka-25/26/27 series helicopters
Armament: 8 3M-80/SS-N-22 Moskit/Sunburn SSM, 8 Kinzhal VLS systems (64 9M-
330/SA-N-9 Gauntlet SAM), 2 CADS-N-1/Kortik CIWS systems (64 9M-311/SA-N-11
Grison SAM; 1 dual 30 mm CIWS per mount (2 CIWS guns total)), 1 dual 130mm/70cal
DP, 8 21 inch torpedo tubes, 2 RPK-5/UDAV-1 Liven anti-torpedo RL
Concept/Program: A modified version of the Udaloy class ASW destroyer. The major
change is substitution of SS-N-22 for SS-N-14; this represents a significant improvement
in anti-ship capabilities and a decrease in emphasis on ASW. Self defense is greatly
improved by addition of the gun/SAM CIWS systems. It has been reported that this class
was intended for the Maritme Border Guard, but the major upgrades in armament make
this seem unlikely. This ship was completed late in 1993 or early in 1994, but remained
inactive until commissioned 1/1999.
Classification: unknown.
Disposals/Reserve: Second unit of the class cancelled and scrapped incomplete; third
unit never laid down.
Builders: Yantar Zavod 820, Kaliningrad, Russia, and Severnaya Verf Zavod 190, St.
Petersburg, Russia.
Concept/Program: Last survivor of six standard 'Kara' class ships. The 'Kara' design
was the first new, large Soviet surface warship in many years, and was evidently intended
to boost blue-water ASW capabilities. Although often grouped with cruisers, these ships
are destroyers by role. Kerch' is the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. May not be capable
of getting underway.
Concept/Program: Probably the last active unit of the original 'Kashin' class, this unit
underwent an extensive upgrading during a 1987-1996 overhaul. This was not the
standard 'Mod Kashin' upgrade. Major improvements included fitting of new sonar, new
EW systems, and a new and modern SSM outfit. Although probably laid up in caretaker
status, this ship likely could return to service in the future, and probably is in much better
condition than many other ships.
Discarded Classes: All 'Kashin' class ships have been stricken; most sold for scrapping
abroad.
Frigates
Neustrashimyy ('Yastreb') multirole frigate (1 ship)
(Project 1154.0)
Displacement: 4,250 tons full load
Dimensions: 129.63 x 15.6 x 8.09 meters/425.3 x 51.2 x 26.5 feet
Propulsion: COGAG: 2 M70 cruise gas turbines, 20,000 shp, 2 M90 boost gas turbines,
37,000 shp; 2 shafts, 57,000 shp, 30+ knots
Crew: 210
Radar: MR-760 Fregat-MA/Top Plate 3-D air search
Sonar: Zvezda-1 suite with MGK-345 Bronza/Ox Yoke hull mounted LF, Ox Tail LF
VDS
Fire Control: MR-352 Pozitiv/Cross Dome SSM targeting, MR-360 Podkat/Cross
Sword SAM control
EW: Vympel-R2 suite with Foot Ball intercept, Half Hat-B intercept, Cage Flask
intercept, Bell Squat jammer, 2 PK-16 decoy RL, 8 PK-10 decoy RK
Aviation: aft helicopter deck and hangar for 1 Ka-26/26/27 series helicopter
Armament: provision for 8 Kh-35/SS-N-25 Uran/Switchblade SSM, 4 Kinzhal VLS
systems (32 9M-330/SA-N-9 Gauntlet SAM), 1 100mm/70cal DP, 2 CADS-N-1/Kortik
CIWS systems (64 9M-311/SA-N-11 Grison SAM; 1 dual 30 mm CIWS per mount (4
CIWS guns total)), 6 21 inch torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes and/or RPK-6/SS-N-16
Vodopod/Stallion ASROC)
Note: Although a new modification of the 'Krivak' design has been proposed, it is
intended solely for the export market, primarily for India. There is no indication that
Russia is interested in the ship.
Note: The 'Krivak-III' class frigates are operated by the Maritime Border Guard, and are
listed with that organization.
Builders: Severnaya Verf 190, St. Petersburg, Russia; modernizations by Severnaya Verf
and Yantar Zavod 820, Kaliningrad, respectively.
Builders: Severnaya Verf 190, St. Petersburg, Russia, Yantar Zavod 820, Kaliningrad,
Russia, and Zalin Zavod 532, Kerch', Ukraine.
Concept/Program: New small frigate, apparently intended primarily for the export
market. Offered in several versions; the first unit is built to the basic design, the second is
optimized for patrol. The first unit was nearly complete by 1995 but was not
commissioned for lack of funds. These ships are effectively the successors to the smaller
(corvette-sized) 'Koni', 'Parchim' and 'Grisha' designs.