The Severomorsk guided-missile destroyer from Russia's Northern Fleet set sail Friday for British shores to team up with NATO warships in an international naval exercise in the North Atlantic, a fleet spokesman said.
The Russian Navy earlier said the Frukus 2010 exercise will be held on July 22-25.
The annual exercises, which traditionally involve France, Russia, Britain and the United States, practice interoperability for future joint operations under a UN mandate.
Previously called RUKUS, the exercises were launched in 1988 to promote dialogue between the Soviet Union, Britain, and the United States. The name was changed to FRUKUS in 2003, when France formally joined the group.
Severomorsk is an Udaloy-class guided-missile destroyer armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and two Ka-27 Helix helicopters.
The Frukus 2009 drills saw the Severomorsk join forces with the French Tourville frigate, the guided-missile frigate USS Klakring and the destroyer HMS York.
MURMANSK, July 9 (RIA Novosti)
