Latest Russian Vessels To Get Advanced Torpedo Defense Systems

Russian vessels which are under development or undergoing upgrades, and the future vessels will be equipped with Paket-NK advanced torpedo defense system.

"The Paket-NK system has completed its trials. All the ships - nuclear powered frigates of Project 22350 and Project 22380, upgraded cruisers of Project 11442 and the future vessels in their design stage will be equipped with the advanced torpedo defense system,” Igor Krylov, CEO of GNPP Region, a subsidiary of the Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV), told TASS Monday.

"Naturally, each Ship Project has its own version of the Paket system, which may differ by its structure. However, its combat parts, in particular, the MPT torpedo and the AT anti-torpedo are identical for any carrier. At present, all the above-mentioned ships of the Navy that are operational in the Baltic, Pacific and Northern Fleet are armed with the required ammunition load of these weapons," the chief executive noted.

The Russian Navy currently operates two Project 11442 missile cruisers, the Pyotr Veliky and the Admiral Nakhimov. The upgrade of the Admiral Nakhimov began in 2014. As a source in the defense industry earlier told TASS, the upgrade of the Pyotr Veliky is scheduled to begin next year. The cruisers will get new Oniks and Kalibr missiles and Tsirkon hypersonic weapons. Advanced surface-to-air missile systems, communications, navigation, life support and other systems are due to be mounted on these warships.

The Project 11442 heavy missile cruisers are 250 meters long and have a displacement of over 26,000 tonnes. The warships have 20 launchers of Granit anti-ship supersonic missiles as their basic armament. The warships have an unlimited operating range due to their nuclear propulsion unit. Russia and the United States are the sole countries that operate warships of this class.