IMAGE: Vitaliy Nevar/TASS
The Russian Black Sea Fleet’s frigates Admiral Makarov and Admiral Essen participated in anti-submarine warfare drills in the Mediterranean Sea, the Fleet’s press office reported on November 16.
“Drills were held to practice searching for and tracking a submarine, searching for, rescuing and providing medical assistance to persons in distress at sea,” TASS quoted the press office statement.
The drills involved Kamov Ka-27PL and Ka-27PS helicopters, which made about 30 takeoffs and landings onto the decks of the frigates, according to the report.
The Admiral Makarov and the Admiral Essen are Project 11356R/M (11357) multipurpose frigates designated to destroy surface combatants, submarines and enemy ground facilities as well as carry out patrols and protect sea communications.
The Project 11356R/M frigates are armed with 8 launching cells of Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, which are capable of striking surface, coastal and underwater targets at a distance of up to 2,600 km. Other weapons are Shtil-1, Palash and AK-630M air defense missile and artillery systems, A-190 100mm universal artillery guns, torpedo tubes and RBU-6000 rocket launchers. The frigates of this project also have a take-off and landing strip and a hangar for one anti-submarine warfare helicopter (Ka-27 or Ka-31).
