The British Navy sent the HMS Portland frigate to monitor the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov as it approached the country’s territory.
“HMS Portland is keeping an eye on the Russian guided-missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the Russian oil tanker Kama as they pass near the UK in international waters. The Portland frigate and her accompanying Merlin helicopter are keeping an eye on things and reporting back. every manoeuvre by the Russian naval force, “On January 11, the British Ministry of Defense issued a statement.
Navy lieutenant colonel Ed Moss-Ward, the captain of HMS Portland, said observation and escort of foreign warships in the waters adjacent to the UK was “routine practise”.
“To ensure that everyone follows the laws of navigation, to discourage inappropriate behaviour, and to safeguard national interests, the British Navy has a continual presence. It demonstrates Britain’s commitment to the alliance because the approach is coordinated with NATO members to monitor Russia’s fleet of warships “Lieutenant Colonel Moss-Ward was added.
On January 4, the Admiral Gorshkov missile corvette with the Zircon hypersonic missile departed the harbour and started a lengthy sea patrol. The Admiral Gorshkov frigate will travel to the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
The Admiral Gorshkov ship conducted an air defence practise while travelling through the Norwegian Sea, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry on January 10.
The first vessel of Project 22350, Admiral Gorshkov, has been in operation since 2018 and serves as the testing ground for Zircon missiles fired from surface ships. The warship travelled more over 35,000 nautical miles on its patrol, making it the first Russian navy vessel to do so since the late 19th century.
The most advanced warship in Russia’s fleet is Project 22350, the first class of heavy stealth corvettes produced by the country since the conclusion of the Cold War. Three ships have been launched, five more are being built for service in 2024–2026, and two more have been ordered by Russia.
The 5,400-ton Project 22350 warship will perform a variety of duties, including long-range attack, anti-submarine warfare, and air defence, and is projected to increase the Russian navy’s capacity for long-range battle. The ship is outfitted with a variety of cutting-edge armaments, including 16 vertical launch tubes for the Zircon hypersonic missile, the Kalibr missile system, or the P-800 Oniks supersonic anti-ship missile.
One of the several hypersonic weapons created by Russia is the 3M22 Zircon, which President Putin has described as a “invincible weapon.” The Zircon missile was initially made public by the head of the Kremlin in a speech in February 2019 when he claimed that it could strike sea and land targets within a 1,000 km range at a speed of more than 11,000 km/h, or nine times the sound.
In October 2020, Russia launched the Zircon missile for the first time. In 2021, the country carried out 12 test launches from surface ships and submarines, all of which were successful.
