The Project 11356 class, also referred to as Krivak V class, is nothing else but a variant
of an old design modified to answer today's naval combat requirement. Therefore, these
frigates may be a system that will be overlooked at first glance. However, Russia is on the
brink of war with Ukraine, and this fact has turned these frigates into one of the most
key systems in the Black Sea. As the Weapon Detective, we are investigating the Project
11356 class, the mainstay of the Black Sea Fleet.
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our account was unfortunately hacked. The problem has resolved now, and we will continue
to share our new videos with you. The Project 11356 class frigates are the most
modern surface combatants in the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy. But, they were
originally designed for the Indian Navy. Actually, this class of surface combatant is a highly
modified variant of the First Cold War-vintage the Project 1135 class. To better understanding
the Project 11356, let's look at its predecessor briefly.
The Project 1135 class, whose NATO reporting name is Krivak I, was developed in the middle
of the 1960s for anti-submarine warfare mission. There were no helicopters on these surface
combatants. Because they would conduct their mission in
coordination with land-based aircraft in close waters.
The Soviet Navy was considering using these ships accompanied with Project 1134A and Project
1134B class cruisers in the open sea. Since these cruisers had helicopters, aviation
facilities were not installed in Project 1135 to reduce costs.
In time, the USSR had commissioned the different variants of the frigates.
The Project 1135M, whose NATO reporting name is Kirvak II, had two 100mm single-barrel
AK-100 guns instead of the AK-726s of its predecessor.
The Project 11351, whose NATO reporting name is Krivak III, was a variant that was designed
as a coast guard cutter. This version had aviation facilities, but its offensive capabilities
had been reduced significantly. Four of the Project 1135 class frigate modernized
in 1990-1992 and renamed the Project 11352/11353. These frigates, also known as Krivak IV class,
were fitted with the Kh-35 Uran anti-ship missiles, whose NATO reporting name is SS-N-25
Switchblade, as well as new radar, sonar, and ECM equipment.
In 1997, Russia managed to sell the latest variant of the frigate, the Project 11356,
to India. This ship had inherited good seakeeping and
good living conditions of its predecessors. It had an aviation facility. Its reshaped
hull and superstructure was reducing radar signature.
The ship had been equipped with the latest weaponry and electronic systems.
The first ship of this class, INS Talwar, was laid down in 1999 and launched in 2000.
She was commissioned three years later. The Indian Navy procured six frigates in two batches.
Each batch has different weapon arrangements. In the late 2000s, the Russian Navy was planning
to procure six Project 22350 for the Black Sea Fleet, whose NATO reporting name is Admiral
Gorshkov. But, the programme experienced some serious
delays. Therefore, the Russian Navy decided to have
three Project 11356 class ships for the Black Sea Fleet as the more feasible solution. Besides,
three frigates would be built for the Baltic Fleet.
But, after the Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, Moskov decided to transfer all Project
11356s to the Black Sea Fleet. The first Russian ship of this class, RFNS
Admiral Grigorovich, was laid down in 2010 and launched in 2014.
She was commissioned in 2016. The Russian variant of the frigate is the
Project 11356R class. The letter R refers to the word Russian.
Before the annexation of Crimea, the Ukrainian Zorya-Mashproekt company had delivered three
gas turbine units to Russia. But, after this event, naturally, Ukraine has given up to
deliver more propulsion systems for the Project 11356R class ships.
Therefore, the Russian Navy abandoned the plan of commissioning the last three ships
of this class. The last two frigates, RFNS Admiral Butakov and RFNS Admiral Istomin were
sold to India. The status of the fourth ship, which is currently under construction, remains
uncertain. The complement of the Indian variant is 180-person.
The fully loaded displacement of the Project 11356 is 4,000 tons. The frigate has a length
of 124.8 metres, a beam of 15.2 metres, and a draught of 4.2 metres. The combined gas
and gas configuration propulsion system consists of two 6,800 horsepower Zorya M 62 and two
27,000 horsepower Zorya AM50 gas turbines. The maximum speed of the Project 11356 is
32 knots. With its economical speed of 20 knots, the ship can reach a range of 8,520
kilometres. The first batch of the Indian Project 11356 class has one eight-cell vertical
launching system for 3M-54 Klub anti-ship missiles, one single-arm ЗS90E launcher for
Shtil-1 air defence missiles, eight Igla-1E air defence missiles, one 100mm A-190E gun,
two Kashtan close-in weapon systems, one RBU-6000 12-barrel anti-submarine rocket system, and
two twin 533mm torpedo tubes. The Russian variant has a 200-person complement.
The Project 11356R class is equipped with the 3M-54 Kalibr anti-ship missiles, whose
NATO reporting name is SS-N-27 Sizzler. It cruises subsonic speeds.
During the terminal phase, it descends its altitude until 4.5 metres while the missile
accelerates to a speed of Mach 2.9 and begin random evasive manoeuvres.
The 3M-54, equipped with a 400-500 kilogram high explosive warhead, has a range of 600
kilometres. The first batches of the Indian Project 11356
class has the export version of the missile, called 3M-54E Klub.
This version, equipped with a 200-kilogram high explosive warhead, has a range of 220
kilometres. The second batch of the Indian Project 11356
class surface combatants is equipped with the BrahMos anti-ship missiles.
With a maximum speed of Mach 3.5, the BrahMos is the fastest anti-ship missile in use. Its
range is about 650 kilometres. The improved version of the missile can reach
a range of 800 kilometres. The BrahMos is effective against both land
and surface targets. The ship is equipped with the Shtil-1 air
defence missiles, whose NATO reporting name is SA-N-12 Grizzly.
The Indian Project 11356 class frigates have one single-arm ЗS90E launcher.
All Russian version ships have two twelve-cell 3S90M vertical launching systems.
The missile has a reaction time of 5-10 seconds. Its effective range is over 30 kilometres,
and its effective altitude is 15,000 metres. The Shtil-1 directs three missiles simultaneously
at each target. It has a maximum speed of Mach 4.5.
The A-190 is operated from the operation room via console. Its reaction time against the
air target is 2 to 5 seconds. The gun has a rate of fire of 80 rounds per minutes. Its
maximum effective range is 15,000 metres. The Kashtan, whose NATO reporting name is
CADS-N-1, combines two 30mm six-barrel gun and up to eight 9M311 air defence missiles.
The effective range of the missile is 8,000 metres.
The guns' effective range is 4,000 metres. The Kashtan can track 30 targets and engage
eight of them simultaneously. Only first three Indian Project 11356 class
ships have this system. Other Indian and Russian frigates are equipped
with the AK-630. This close-in weapon system has a rate of fire of 5,000 rounds per minute.
Its effective range is about 5,000 metres. The Project 11356 class has aviation facilities
there are suitable for the Ka-27 and Ka-31 helicopters.
The Indian Navy also deploys the Dhruv or Chetak helicopters.
Different from the Indian ships, the propulsion system of the Project 11356R class consists
of two 8,450 horsepower DS-71 and two 22,000 horsepower DT-59 gas turbines. They have a
maximum speed of 30 knots, and these frigates can reach a range of 8,980 kilometres with
an economical speed of 14 knots. Russia, which no longer has the chance to
supply gas turbines from Ukraine, commissioned the local NPO Saturn company to develop domestic
gas turbines to be used in Project 11356s. Since 2008, the Indian Project 11356 class
ships have been deployed to the Gulf of Aden for successful anti-piracy operations.
In 2015, alongside the destroyer INS Mumbai and the patrol vessel INS Sumitra , INS Tarkash
provided protection and support to Indian ships and aircraft involved in the evacuation
of Indian citizens from Yemen during the military intervention.
In 2016, accompanied by the destroyer INS Kolkata and the fleet tanker INS Aditya, INS
Trikand attended a goodwill mission to Madagascar, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa.
In 2016 and 2017, RFNS Admiral Grigorovich launched the 3M-54 cruise missiles against
targets in the Idlib and Homs. Similarly, in 2017, RFNS Admiral Essen conducted
a strike mission in Syria by firing its 3M-54 cruise missiles.
Oyher than the Project 11356s, the major surface combatants of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian
Navy consist of one Project 1135 class and one Project 1135M class frigates, as well
as one Project 1164 class cruiser. All these First Cold War-vintage ships cannot
answer the modern naval warfare requirement. Today, we are living with the risk of a possible
Russo-Ukrainian War. Let's be realistic. The Western countries will not declare war
on Russia to protect Ukraine. Even if they send a naval task force to the
Black Sea as a show of power, they will avoid confrontation.
Besides, the Montreux Convention limits the total tonnage of warships that can be deployed
in this sea by non-Black Sea powers. These vessels have to give a notification 15 days
before crossing the Turkish Straits. A ship heavier than 15,000 tons cannot pass through
the straits. This means that no modern aircraft carrier
can enter the Black Sea. Therefore, the fleet that Western countries
will send to the Black Sea will be small without reasonable air support.
These conditions may change if Turkey entered the war. But, waiting for Turkey's entry into
the war against Russia would not be realistic. Therefore, a small number of semi-modern ships
are sufficient for the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy. Russia has enough capacity
to prevent any force from entering the north of the Black Sea.
Thanks to its long-range 3M-54 missiles, the Project 11356 class frigates can attack any
ship on the Black Sea without leaving the protective umbrella of the Russian Air Force.
Even the long-range air defence missile batteries can provide a protective umbrella for them.
A highly unlikely Russia-NATO War could not change the situation.
In this case, it is too risky to deploy a large naval task force into the Black Sea.
The most rational solution would conduct airstrikes using airbases in Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey
to destroy the Russian navy and air power. As the Weapon Detective, our analysis is that
the Project 11356 class may not be the best frigates available; but they are one of the
most suitable solutions for the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy. Yes, these ships
may not have the power to change the balances in the Black Sea. However, the balances in
this sea are determined by airpower, not surface combat ships.
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