Russian warship to visit British port ahead of FRUKUS 2010 drills

13.07.2010 The Severomorsk destroyer from Russia's Northern Fleet will make a port call in Plymouth from July 16-23 before joining NATO warships in the FRUKUS 2010 naval drills.

"The visit will continue until July 23 and is linked with the ship's participation in the FRUKUS 2010 international exercises," a spokesman for the Russian Navy said on Monday.

The FRUKUS 2010 exercises will be held from July 22-25 in the North Atlantic.

The annual naval drills, which traditionally involve France, Russia, Britain and the United States, practice interoperability for future joint operations under a UN mandate.

Previously called RUKUS, the exercises were launched in 1988 to promote dialogue between the Soviet Union, Britain, and the United States. The name was changed to FRUKUS in 2003, when France formally joined the group.

Severomorsk is an Udaloy class guided-missile destroyer armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and two Ka-27 Helix helicopters.