Turkmenia gets two Russian-made patrol boats

10.12.2009
Turkmenian Navy received two Sobol patrol boats made by OJSC Almaz Shipbuilding Company (St. Petersburg). They moored Tuesday at Caspian port Turkmenbashi, says press service of Turkmenian government.

Purposeful steps on strengthening naval infrastructure at Caspian Sea are aimed at protection of sea border and active countering international terrorism and trans-border criminality, says the press service.

At August session of National Security Council the President Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov declared necessity to consolidate positions of Turkmenistan at sea, in particular, to create permanent military and coast guard base at Caspian Sea. Turkmenian Coast Guard will purchase "two modern ships armed with missiles"; Turkmenian Navy will regularly conduct exercises in the waters of Caspian Sea, said the president at the same time.

In 2008 Russia delivered Molniya-type guided missile boat to Turkmenian Navy under long lease contract.

Patrol boat Sobol is hugely popular at the world market. Rosoboronexport jointly with Almaz shipyard carries on negotiations with great amount of potential orderers of this fast-speed vessel with high navigability. Among the countries wishing to purchase Sobol are China, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, countries of Middle East, Central America, Southern Africa, Brazil. The contract with Azerbaijan is being elaborated.

Basic features of new boat are high speed (up to 50 knots) provided by German small-power motor and "practically full automation". Sobol may be controlled by the crew of two.

Lead ship of Project 12200 was built in 2006 and handed over FSB Coast Guard for trial operation. Upon trial results it was decided to launch serial production of 30 ships. Sobol demonstrated unique performance and high combat buoyancy. The vessels sail to the destination under their own power.

For the purpose of unification, in perspective Sobol will substitute all boats of that class in Russian Coast Guard. The boat variant delivered to Russian frontiersmen is armed with machinegun, although installation of gun and missiles is possible as well.

Source: Vzglyad, photo: Project 12200 Sobol patrol boat