MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian Navy will receive the first of six advanced Project 22160 patrol ships equipped with an integrated bridge system and armed with the Kalibr cruise missile, dubbed the Vasily Bykov, in 2017, the general director of the vessels’ shipbuilding plant said Thursday.
"According to the state contract, the Project 22160 lead ship’s commissioning is scheduled for 2017," Renat Mistakhov told RIA Novosti, ahead of the September 6-11 Army-2016 military and technical international forum to be held in Kubinka near Moscow.
The Project 22160 ships are intended for economic zone patrol, search-and-rescue operations, anti-piracy and anti-smuggling activities, environmental monitoring, as well as coastal defense and escort service, according to the shipyard. They have a range of 6,000 nautical miles and are armed with a single 57mm cannon, heavy machine guns, air defense system and missile launchers.
