Russia’s Pacific Fleet expands hypersonic strike capabilities with new Project 22350 frigate Admiral Amelko.

On August 14, 2025, the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg launched the Admiral Amelko frigate, the fifth vessel of Russia’s Project 22350 series and the first completed in a modified configuration. The ship was laid down on April 23, 2019, alongside its sister ship, Admiral Chichagov, in a ceremony attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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The Admiral Amelko introduces an enlarged missile load compared to the first four ships of the class, allowing it to carry a mixed load of Kalibr cruise missiles, P-800 Oniks supersonic anti-ship missiles, 3M22 Zircon hypersonic weapons, and 91R Otvet anti-submarine missiles. (Picture source: Severnaya Verf)

The Admiral Amelko is named after Soviet naval commander Admiral Nikolai Nikolaevich Amelko, with the ship’s godmother being Elena Amelko, the wife of the admiral’s grandson. The vessel is intended for the Pacific Fleet, with the official schedule indicating delivery by 2027, although sector analysts highlight that delays may push commissioning to 2028. At the launch, Admiral Aleksandr Moiseev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, confirmed plans to lay keels for at least two more ships of this class in 2026, while Severnaya Verf’s general director, Mikhail Nenyukov, emphasized the uninterrupted production cycle at the shipyard.

The Admiral Amelko introduces an enlarged missile load compared to the first four ships of the class. It carries 24 vertical launch system (VLS) cells for the UKSK universal shipborne complex, arranged in three modules of eight cells each, instead of the 16 carried by earlier frigates. This system supports a mixed load of Kalibr cruise missiles, P-800 Oniks supersonic anti-ship missiles, 3M22 Zircon hypersonic weapons, and 91R Otvet anti-submarine missiles. In addition to the UKSK launchers, the frigate mounts the Poliment-Redut air defense complex with 32 VLS cells that can house medium-range 9M96 missiles, extended-range 9M96E2 variants, or quad-packed short-range 9M100 interceptors. For surface strike support, the vessel is fitted with the A-192M 130 mm naval gun with a firing range of up to 23 kilometers. Short-range protection is reinforced by two Palma close-in weapon systems combining Sosna-R surface-to-air missiles and six-barrel 30 mm rotary cannons.

The vessel’s anti-submarine and anti-torpedo defense includes the Paket-NK system with two quadruple 324 mm launchers, enabling both offensive torpedo launches and defensive anti-torpedo countermeasures. Its combat suite integrates the Poliment phased-array radar for air and surface search, the Zarya-3 sonar system along with the Vinyetka towed array for underwater detection, and the Sigma-22350 combat management system for coordination of all shipboard weapons and sensors. For additional protection, the ship incorporates the Prosvet-M electronic warfare system and the 5P-42 Filin optical countermeasure system, which can disorient adversaries in low-visibility or nighttime conditions. Aviation facilities include a hangar and flight deck capable of operating a Ka-27, Ka-29, or Ka-31 helicopter, enhancing anti-submarine, transport, and airborne early warning capabilities.

The Admiral Amelko’s propulsion plant is the all-Russian M55R combined diesel and gas turbine system (CODAG), introduced after the cancellation of Ukrainian engine deliveries in 2014. It consists of two 10D49 Kolomna diesel engines rated at 5,200 horsepower each for cruise operations and two M90FR gas turbines from NPO Saturn delivering 27,500 horsepower each for boost, totaling 65,400 shaft horsepower. The ship also carries two ADG-1000 diesel generators providing electrical power. This powerplant drives two shafts with five-blade fixed-pitch propellers. The platform reaches a maximum speed of 29 to 29.5 knots, has a cruising range of approximately 4,500 to 4,850 nautical miles at 14 knots, and an endurance of up to 30 days. Standard displacement is about 4,500 tons, with full load displacement at 5,400 tons. Its dimensions are 135 meters in length, 16 to 16.4 meters in beam, and a draft of 4.5 meters. The crew complement is between 180 and 210, including personnel for aviation operations.

Project 22350, also known as the Admiral Gorshkov class, is Russia’s first major class of ocean-going surface combatants initiated after the Soviet period. Designed by the Northern Design Bureau and approved in 2003, it was conceived to replace the Neustrashimy and Krivak classes and to conduct long-range strikes, escort missions, and anti-submarine warfare in distant seas. The lead ship Admiral Gorshkov was laid down in 2006, launched in 2010, and commissioned in 2018 after long delays tied to engine availability. The second ship, Admiral Kasatonov, was commissioned in 2020, while the third, Admiral Golovko, entered service in 2023. The fourth ship, Admiral Isakov, was launched in 2024 and is currently being outfitted, while Admiral Chichagov, Admiral Yumashev, and Admiral Spiridonov remain under construction. Contracts signed in 2020 expanded the class further, while the Russian Navy has stated a requirement for at least 15 frigates in standard and upgraded versions.

The launch of Admiral Amelko highlights both the progress and the difficulties in Russian naval shipbuilding. The frigate was initially expected to be fitted with 32 UKSK cells, but official information boards at the ceremony confirmed the modified configuration with 24 cells. Meanwhile, Russian industry continues to pursue the larger Project 22350M “Super Gorshkov,” a variant projected to displace between 7,000 and 8,000 tons, mount 48 to 64 UKSK cells, and carry up to 64 Redut VLS cells for layered air defense. Technical design work on the 22350M has been reported in its final stages, with construction planned once documentation is complete. To balance workloads, discussions have taken place about transferring part of the construction to the Amur Shipyard in the Far East. Alongside these developments, Russian shipyards have faced setbacks, including the sinking of the newly built tug Kapitan Ushakov during outfitting at the Baltic Shipyard on August 9, 2025, underlining challenges in quality control. The Admiral Amelko, with its expanded missile capacity and improved systems, nonetheless represents a continuation of Russia’s surface fleet modernization efforts, with its operational deployment dependent on the pace of completion and testing.