MOSCOW, September 16. /TASS/. The upgrade of the Marshal Krylov missile range instrumentation ship will facilitate launches of space rockets from the Vostochny cosmodrome, Andrei Obukhov, chief designer of the Baltsudoproyekt design bureau (an affiliate of the Krylov state scientific center), told TASS on Wednesday.
"We are working on modernization of the Project 1914.1 Marshal Krylov ship operated by the [Russian Navy] Pacific Fleet. Improvements in the ship’s measurement equipment will enable it to support rocket launches from the Vostochny cosmodrome that is being built now," he said.
According to the chief designer of Baltsudoproyekt that developed the Project 1914.1 ship, "the Marshal Krylov is under our continuous supervision because we are installing specialized equipment and extending its service life under the government-awarded contract."
Obukhov said that the Marshal Krylov had come to Vladivostok for the upgrade in October 2014. The upgrade is being performed by the Dalzavod shipyard.
The Project 1914.1 Marshal Krylov measurement ship with a displacement of 23,700 tons was launched on July 24, 1987 and remains the only Russian ship in its class, outfitted for space communications, and one of the largest and best-equipped Russian Navy ships. It operates in support of flight tests of advanced spacecraft, launch vehicles and cruise and ballistic missiles. Measuring 200-plus meters in length and having a crew of about 350, the Marshal Krylov has a speed of 22 knots and can carry two Kamov Ka-27 (NATO reporting name Helix) search and rescue helicopters.