HMS Iron Duke recently escorted Russia’s newest Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate, the RFS Admiral Golovko, westward through the English Channel.
The Admiral Golovko conducted drills in the Barents, Norwegian, and North Seas before proceeding into the Channel.
Admiral Golovko is a modern Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate serving in the Russian Navy. Notably, she is the first vessel in this class to be equipped with an entirely domestic powerplant, marking a departure from reliance on Ukrainian imports used in earlier ships.
This shift aligns with Russia’s broader efforts to reduce dependency on foreign components in its naval fleet. Admiral Golovko is named after Arseny Golovko, a notable Soviet admiral, and was built by the Severnaya Verf shipyard in Saint Petersburg.
The Admiral Gorshkov class, to which Admiral Golovko belongs, was developed as a successor to the Neustrashimy and Krivak-class frigates from the Soviet era. These new frigates are designed as versatile, multi-role ships, capable of executing long-range strikes, performing anti-submarine warfare, and carrying out escort missions. This flexibility distinguishes the class from its predecessors, enabling it to undertake various types of operations and adapt to the modern demands of naval warfare.
Construction on Admiral Golovko began on 1 February 2012, and the frigate was launched on 22 May 2020. Initially, there were reports that Admiral Golovko would be the first Russian surface vessel equipped with the Tsirkon hypersonic missile system. However, it was later confirmed that the first ship of the class, Admiral Gorshkov, would receive this capability first. The Tsirkon missile is designed to travel at hypersonic speeds, making it difficult to intercept and significantly enhancing the ship’s combat capabilities.
Admiral Golovko began her sea trials on 26 November 2022 in the Barents Sea. These factory sea trials were an essential step in testing her systems and performance in operational conditions. After successfully completing her trials, the frigate was officially commissioned into the Russian Navy on 25 December 2023, with Russian President Vladimir Putin attending the ceremony. The vessel reached her designated homeport in Severomorsk on 11 January 2024.
The frigate is well-equipped with advanced weaponry and systems, including a 130 mm naval gun, 16 vertical launch system (VLS) cells for anti-ship and cruise missiles, 32 VLS cells for surface-to-air missiles, and a variety of close-in weapons systems.
Admiral Golovko also carries a Ka-27 series helicopter, supported by a helipad and hangar. Her sensors and electronic warfare suite include radar and sonar systems for air and surface detection, as well as countermeasures for enhanced defence. With a top speed of 29.5 knots and an endurance of 30 days, Admiral Golovko is designed to operate effectively in both coastal and blue-water environments, reflecting the Russian Navy’s strategic shift towards more versatile and self-sufficient naval assets.
Hi folks hope all is well.
I recall when I was a kid back in the sixties when on regular occasions Russian ships and indeed fighters would go right up to the line of UK territory. Our fighters would escort the Russians away so much so the pilots would wave to each other. This was reported regularly in the press.
To bring matters to the current time, I wonder what would happen if a Russian war ship of any description or fighter plain would inch its way closer and close to our shores?
I would suspect a rule of engagement would be acted. But at what point would this be to start firing real deadly shots at each other?
Cheers
George
I think the law of the sea permits warships of one nation to traverse the sea zone of another provided it is ‘innocent passage’ – basically meaning they are en route to somewhere else – without prior notification, and provided they aren’t conducting military activity like firing weapons/manoeuvres etc.. This was part of the UK’s position on why the crew of HMS Dragon (I think it was) were within their rights to sail past the coast of Crimea some years ago before the Ukraine war, but the Russian’s threw a hissy fit about it. The other reason of course being that Crimean waters belong to Ukraine, not Russia.
Many thanks Gareth
Cheers George
I’d imagine that we’d initially offer verbal warnings, increasing to letting them know of incoming actions. The escorting frigate may then send out a small boat or two to go far closer to the Russian ship to try and steer them away from the mainland. That will be followed by a load of Typhoons being scrambled and the firing of some warning shots a couple of 100m away from the ship from the Royal Navy or RAF.
Many thanks Malcolm. Interesting though I suppose there must be a threshold that triggers a formal response from the prime minister of the day? Whereby the order is to use firepower. Is there a criteria that has to be followed or is this information in the public domain? I would imagine there must be a scenario played out in the event of a foolish foreign military heading our way, a rogue player wishing to create hell.
Cheers
George
“Just another target”
Would the soviets in power in London attack Russian boat ?
N Korea sends troops, ammo & supplies to kill UKRs, Iran sends supplies & drones for the same, others too. We need to get real & stop holding UKR back. Every limit we set on UKR, Putin blows through in terms of what he does & who supplies him. All we’re doing is hlping Putin tie UKRs hands while he attacks them & tries to steal UKR soil. We must stop allowing Putin to dictate how UKR defends herself.
Now Trump says UKR must allow Putin to keep what he has taken by invading, murdering & bombing UKR. That American nut job has no right to dictate how allies should surrender territory to larger, greedier neighbours. All that does is betray allies & signal to the whole world that might is right, invading & annexing neighbours is ok &the USA is a totally unrealiable & unpredictable ally.
That doesn’t make America great, it makes it treacherous, fickle & petty. Her voice in the world becomes weak & international law & civilised values lose value in the face of the greatest threats since the end of the cold war.
If we allow Russia to grab whatever they wish to satisfy their desires & “security”, by the same measure why not Poland/Lithuania/NATO retake Kalinigrad? It’s exactly the same rationale by that insane measure.
In WW2 did the USA suggest France should give up to win peace, or the UK to surrnder terrotory to make peace with Hitler? Did they surrender any Pacific territories to “win” a foriegn policy coup & appease Imperial Japan? What would’ve been the result? Hitler or Japan saying ta very much, we’ll stop invasions & live at peace?
No, it would’ve obviously just given both time & a pause to re-equip before the next stage of their conquests.
We need to stand up to Putin, not stand-off, hindering his victims.
Some questions,
You complain about Trump, what stops the UK from sending its military to Ukraine?
What stops you from volunteering?
Do you think it would of been better to talk to Russia before this SMO started about mutual security?
It would seem Ulya that I have tendency to be in agreement with your questions to Frank62.
As a Further Education College Student in the Heady Days of Gorbachev and the Bringing Down of the Berlin Wall, It would seem that I read much of Geopolitical Articles by one Ian Bruce, amongst others.
IF one reads further into Ukrainian history, It would seem that that East European and Land-Locked Territory has been very much fought about, in, on and within for many generations of the populace, and the Acquisitions in Present Time Kursk would seem little different from decades ago during Second World War when It Would Seem that a Massive Tank Battle was fought in the Kursk Territory with the combatants Germany and Russia.
It would seem that I Am Ruled OUT for Any Participation due to My AGE and My HEALTH. Whilst attending F.E. Colleges, It would seem that I WAS ALREADY in the category of being by Chronological Terms a Mature Student whom previously had been in demanding and lengthy hours of Full Time Employment in Administration Roles in my native locality.
As an Example, during Christmas Season of the First Year of Full Time Employment IT WOULD SEEM THAT ALL-OF Senior Colleagues (By-way-of their Lengths of Service in their Administration Duties that It would seem I had myself joined) WERE ACCORDED Additional DAYS and TIME OFF at Christmas AND the New Year ~ More Than An-Half-Century-Ago in Years.
And an Art Teacher in my Secondary School Classes would seem to have been a Polish National whom had escaped the clutches of Russia throughout lengthy years of Second World War.
SO, It Would Seem that a great many people have reasons to fear the Russia of Putin and his PREDECESSORS in Time.