Russian frigate's English channel passage sparks NATO alert
The Russian frigate with hypersonic missiles, Admiral Golovko, passed through the English Channel on Saturday, November 9th, attracting NATO's attention. The vessel, supported by the tanker Vyazma, was identified by the British frigate HMS Iron Duke, and its movements were tracked by RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft and Merlin HM2 helicopters.
Admiral Golovko is a Project 22350 vessel that entered service in December 2023. The Russians equipped it with 16 vertical launchers for cruise missiles, including hypersonic Zircons with a range of up to 1,000 kilometres, and 32 anti-aircraft missile launchers. Admiral Golovko is armed with an A-192M gun of 127 millimetres, two CIWS Palash systems, and eight torpedo launchers.
Russian frigate under NATO observation
The tanker Vyazma provides standard support for long missions, supplying fuel and other necessary resources. According to The Aviationist, this is Admiral Golovko's first such long-range mission, although the previous mission of its sister ship, Admiral Gorshkov, also attracted NATO's interest. This time, Golovko crossed the English Channel, which, according to Russian media, is part of demonstrating the presence of the Russian fleet in strategic areas.
The British Royal Navy routinely monitors the movements of Russian ships in the English Channel. However, this time, the support from the RAF and cooperation with the Dutch Navy indicate heightened interest in this operation, notes The Aviationist. RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft, operating from the Lossiemouth base, tracked the vessels' route from the North Sea to the Atlantic. At the same time, the Merlin HM2 helicopter, equipped with a Blue Kestrel 5000 radar, provided additional air support.
The Russian intelligence ship Yantar also took part in the operation, passing through the English Channel towards the Atlantic. Yantar, known for its presence near British waters, has systems to operate remote underwater vehicles, which can be used to examine underwater infrastructure such as communication cables or sonar networks. This vessel was seen near the USS Harry S. Truman strike group and the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
On Tuesday, Russian news agencies reported that a Russian Navy frigate equipped with new-generation hypersonic cruise missiles was participating in manoeuvres in the English Channel and performing tasks in the Atlantic Ocean. Its crew is to conduct anti-terrorist exercises, repelling air and sea drone attacks from a simulated enemy. The Russian Northern Fleet's statement noted that the vessel is "currently continuing to carry out missions in the designated areas of the Atlantic Ocean."
