New Super-Frigate to Protect Caspian Sea

08.06.2012 Project 11661K frigate Dagestan will join Caspian Flotilla (CF) in the nearest time. Currently, the ship armed with Caliber-NK missile system is passing state trials primarily taken place in the Black Sea, said CF Commander Rear Admiral Sergei Alekminsky meeting with the Dagestan president Magometsalam Magomedov.

"Trials gave positive results", said the flotilla commander. "The ship is good and well-stuffed. Currently, it is the most powerful ship in Russian Navy. She's armed with missile system able to hit sea surface targets at 375 km, and coastal targets at 2,600 km. So far, no Russian surface warship has such mighty missile arms, only submarines", said RADM Alekminsky.

The frigate is expected to move to the Caspian Sea early in July to hold closing phase of trials. After that, Dagestan will be commissioned into Russian Navy, the CF Commander said.

The ship's first presentation will take place in Astrakhan during the Russian Navy Day parade, Alekminsky said.

"It is a great pleasure to know that one of Russia's most powerful ships will be based here, in the Caspian Sea. It is good news for our foreign allies, and a weighty argument for those who are not. Today, the Caspian Sea and Caucasus are places where interests of various powers intersect, so Russia must have a mighty fleet here. I'm sure that frigate Dagestan and further ships will strengthen that might", pointed out the President of Dagestan.

Caspian Flotilla already operates one ship of that class, but with different armament - frigate Tatarstan. Third corvette built by Almaz shipyard (St. Petersburg) – Makhachkala – was launched earlier this year. In the nearest time, Caspian Flotilla will change and strengthen its surface fleet, mostly with commissioning of frigate Dagestan.