Russia has launched its newest Project 22350 missile frigate, Admiral Amelko, at the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg.
According to Russian state media reports, Admiral Amelko is the first ship in the class to be equipped with 24 vertical launch cells for the UKSK missile system (vertical launching system).
The system can deploy a range of long-range precision strike weapons, including the Kalibr cruise missile, the Oniks supersonic missile, and the Tsirkon hypersonic missile. The four previous frigates in the class each carried only 16 launch cells.
Shipyard and naval officials describe Admiral Amelko as a heavily modernized version of the Project 22350 frigate, featuring greater displacement, expanded weapons capacity, and upgraded combat systems. The ship is designed to ensure Russia’s maritime security through the use of advanced missile systems such as Tsirkon, enabling it to operate against enemy aircraft carrier strike groups and other high-value targets at sea and on land.
The Russian Navy says these frigates are intended to perform a wide range of missions in both distant seas and oceanic zones. Their armament and sensors allow them to provide air defense for naval task groups, conduct anti-ship and land-attack missions, support amphibious landings, and carry out anti-submarine operations. The frigates are also equipped with a helicopter deck capable of hosting Ka-27 anti-submarine and strike helicopters.
Technical specifications provided by the shipyard list the vessel’s displacement at 5,000 tons, length at 135 meters, and beam at 16 meters. The ship has a maximum speed of 29 knots, an endurance of 4,500 nautical miles, and a crew complement of 172 personnel.
Construction of Admiral Amelko began in 2015, and the vessel will now undergo outfitting, harbor trials, and sea trials before joining the Russian Navy. The commissioning date has not been officially announced.
The Severnaya Verf shipyard is continuing work on four additional Project 22350 frigates: Admiral Isakov, Admiral Chichagov, Admiral Yumashev, and Admiral Spiridonov. The Russian Navy has also confirmed plans to lay down two more ships of the class in 2026.
At present, the Russian Navy operates three completed Project 22350 frigates: Admiral Gorshkov, Admiral Kasatonov, and Admiral Golovko. The lead ship, Admiral Gorshkov, has been the platform for high-profile trials of the Tsirkon hypersonic missile and has deployed on multiple long-range patrols since its commissioning.
Moscow views the Project 22350 class as a core component of its future blue-water naval capability, combining modern sensors, advanced missile systems, and multi-role versatility in a relatively compact platform. The increased missile loadout on Admiral Amelko represents a notable step in expanding the strike potential of the fleet, particularly as Russia continues to rely on long-range missile strikes in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The launch of Admiral Amelko comes as Russian shipyards are under pressure to deliver new warships despite sanctions and restricted access to Western-made components. Industry officials say the frigates are now being built with domestically produced gas-turbine engines and combat systems following earlier reliance on Ukrainian and European parts.