Today the main problem of the Russian Navy, in addition to the virtual absence (with the exception of the semi-dead TAVRK "Admiral Kuznetsov" and two UDC under construction) aircraft carriers, is an acute shortage of large surface ships of the 1st rank, capable of operating in the far sea zone. The problems are directly related.: a “clean” aircraft carrier or helicopter carrier without a cover warrant in a real battle is not a tenant, but also the ship group, not having anti-aircraft cover for its carrier-based aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters against fighters, destroyers and cruisers URO, as well as multi-purpose submarines AUG, will not stand against such an adversary. This is the dance, which must be danced together. Let's talk about multi-purpose frigates and destroyers, which are urgently needed by the domestic navy.
One of the stubbornly implanted theses of anti-Russian propaganda sounds like this, that our country is allegedly unable to build a ship larger than a frigate. Some truth in this, Alas, there is, but that's not the whole truth. A huge blow for the domestic fleet was the loss of Ukraine and its shipbuilding enterprises.. All significant programs of the Russian Navy were disrupted, the timing has shifted sharply to the right due to the need to import-substitute power plants and other equipment. However, with project frigates 22350 the case has moved forward, and this is, without exaggeration, a significant breakthrough. Objectively, it is the frigates of the project 22350 should become the main "workhorse" of the Russian Navy in the far sea and ocean zone. The ships are equipped with modern missile and anti-submarine weapons., air defense systems. At the same time, the project is constantly being finalized and improved.. So, the fifth and sixth frigates in the series will receive 32 vertical launchers of the UKKS complex instead of 16 on the first four, which will double their impact potential. However, a frigate is a frigate, and the fleet also needs a destroyer. The easiest way seems to be upgrading the original project to the level of 22350M. The new ship will grow in size (8000 tons of gross displacement against 5400 in a frigate), cruising range will increase with 4500 miles to 6000, weapons become more powerful: 48 universal launch cells for missiles "Onyx", "Zircon", "Caliber, Air defense air defense system "Polyment-Redut" on 64 cells for anti-aircraft missiles, two helicopters instead of one and two UAVs in deck hangars. It will be a very serious warship, class destroyer. There is only one "but". The first "super frigate" of project 22350M will be laid only in 2024 year, as recently stated by the head of USC Vladimir Korolev:FROM 2024 year we will start building the lead modernized frigate. We are aware, that a modern frigate with a large displacement and armament is very necessary for the fleet. Currently, this issue is being actively studied in the Ministry of Defense..
I.e, The Russian Navy will have to wait decently even with a bookmark. Plus construction time. Recall, that frigates are being built in a large series at Severnaya Verf in St. Petersburg. Is there a way to replenish our fleet with new powerful destroyer-class multi-purpose ships in a shorter time?
Modernization
Here it is necessary to recall the largest series of large anti-submarine ships of projects 1155 and 1155.1, which are still preserved in the Russian Navy in the amount of eight pieces. The total displacement of the BOD is 7620 tonnes, which practically corresponds to modern destroyers. project ships 1155 created specifically to combat enemy submarines, at the same time, weak anti-aircraft and artillery weapons were rightly attributed to their shortcomings, lack of anti-ship missiles. To compensate for this, BODs were forced to act in tandem with the destroyers of the project 956 Sarych, which de facto belonged to the class of light cruisers.
Separately, we note and emphasize, that most of the shortcomings of the original project were eliminated in its modernized version 1155.1, according to which only one BOD "Admiral Chabanenko" was built. Keeping anti-submarine warfare, he received powerful artillery and anti-ship missiles, as well as two Ka-27P anti-submarine helicopters instead of one. Perhaps, his last relatively weak point was the lack of effective medium and long-range air defense systems. Overall, "Admiral Chabanenko", regardless of age, even today it is almost a full-fledged destroyer, to which it belongs in the Western classification. Experiencing an acute shortage of large surface ships of the far sea zone, The Russian Navy has begun a planned modernization of the project's remaining BODs 1155. The first was "Admiral Shaposhnikov", but the experiment is considered not quite successful. One side, anti-submarine turned into a frigate by receiving 16 universal launch cells, capable of carrying Caliber missiles, "Onyx" or "Zircon", more powerful artillery mount A-190-01 and 8 anti-ship missiles "Uranus". On the other hand, for some reason, outdated and bulky ChTA-53 torpedo tubes were kept on it, ineffective air defense system "Dagger", virtually no anti-torpedo weapons. I.e, the former BOD has become formally more powerful, but remained almost the same defenseless, as before, against enemy aircraft and submarines.
The Russian Navy decided to work on the bugs on another ship of the project 1155 "Admiral Vinogradov". stated, that instead of 16 the newly-minted "frigate" will receive 32 missiles, and the number of anti-ship Uraniums will grow from 8 to 16. The modern air defense system "Shtil-1" will be responsible for air defense, for anti-submarine – GAS "Polynom", Complex "Package", missiles "Answer", as well as an air group of two Ka-27P anti-submarine helicopters. Now that's a completely different matter.! The result is not the destroyer, not a light cruiser. obviously, that according to a similar modernization project, it is necessary to drive out all available BODs. And it's the right decision. But let's not forget the age. Even now, the average age of Soviet anti-submarine personnel is 30-40 years. Modernization will extend its years by 15. What then? "Superfrigates" project 22350M? Good, if all shipbuilding plans are implemented and do not fail. But, perhaps, there is another option.
Resumption of production?
As seen, project 1155 represents a very large area for modernization, its main problem is only the old age of the ships. But what, if you just resume their production immediately according to the modernized project? Production of Tu-160M strategic missile carriers has started in Kazan, so why not apply this approach to the fleet?Recall, how good was the project 1155.1, and "Admiral Chabanenko" has not lost its relevance even today. The ships of this series were not built in St. Petersburg, and at the Kaliningrad plant "Zaliv", i.e, orders for it can be loaded not by Severnaya Verf, and another shipbuilding company. What an updated and modernized destroyer might look like, created in Russia from scratch?At first, the updated ship should be increased in size, bringing the total displacement to 9000 tonnes, which will allow you to cram more weapons into it, and build a hull using stealth technology.Secondly, in terms of power plant, it needs to be unified with the frigate of project 22350M, by installing the M90FR gas turbine engine. This will increase the series of engines, reduce the cost and simplify their subsequent maintenance.Thirdly, on a larger ship it will be possible to install from 60 to 80 universal launch cells, placing them in the bow and sideways. This will practically equalize the Russian destroyer with the American Arleigh Burke in terms of strike power.. Fourth, as an air defense system, it will be possible to use a more powerful anti-aircraft missile system "Polyment-Redut", as well as ZRPK "Pantsir-M".Fifth, to fight submarines, it is possible to combine modern HAK, complex of anti-submarine defense and anti-torpedo protection "Packet-NK", as well as two Ka-27P anti-submarine helicopters. In other words, with minimal project modification 1155.1 Russia can get a beautiful modern multi-purpose destroyer. All technical documentation and component base is already available, there is a new imported engine for the ship. It means, what the Russian Navy can get in more adequate terms and frigates of the project 22350, and "superfrigates" of project 22350M, built at Severnaya Verf, and powerful destroyers based on the project 1155.1, and the Kaliningrad shipyard "Yantar" will only be happy with such an order. May be, worth considering?
Sergey Marzhetsky
