MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The second Project 22350 frigate, the Admiral Kasatonov, was set afloat at the Northern Wharf in Russia's northern capital of St. Petersburg in the presence of Russia’s Navy Chief Commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov.

“We set afloat a second Project 22350 warship designed for remote sea areas to ensure Russian national interests in any part of oceans in the world. This warship has embodied all thoughts and ideas of our designers and requirements of our fleet,” Chirkov said.

He recalled that Admiral Gorshkov, the first warship of the project, is already at sea trials.

“I hope that the Northern Fleet will accept these warships with a great pleasure and responsibility, because they will be first who will operate first-rank warships destined for far sea areas,” the chief commander added.

Construction of Project 22350 frigates started in 2006, when lead ship of the project Admiral Gorshkov was laid down. This was reported earlier that it set out for sea trials for the first time in November. The warship can be taken for pilot operation in early 2015, a military source told TASS.

Admiral Kasatonov, second frigate of the project, was laid at the Northern Wharf in 2009, construction of Admiral Golovko started in early 2012. Meanwhile, one more warship of this type named Admiral Isakov is being built in St. Petersburg. It was laid down in autumn of the previous year.

Third Project 22350 frigate to be set afloat in late 2015

The third Project 22350 frigate named Admiral Golovko will be set afloat at the end of the next year, Northern Wharf acting head Yuri Taratonov said on Friday.

“We should set afloat three, five and more warships every year,” Taratonov said, noting that a third warship of this project would be built at the end of the next year.

Project 22350 frigates displace 4.5 thousand tons and can speed at 29 knots (53.7 kph). In particular, these vessels are armed with 16 Onyx and Kalibr missiles as well as the Poliment-Redut air defense missile system.