Russian press reported recently that project 11540 frigate Neustrashimyy (SKR 712) will rejoin the Baltic Fleet before the end of 2019.
The 26-year-old ship’s extended capital repairs began when it arrived at Yantar in Kaliningrad in early 2014.
Neustrashimyy looking worse for wear some years ago
Neustrashimyy is supposed to begin moored trials in May, underway tests in August, and return to service in November.
Delivery of the refurbished ship has been postponed for various reasons, including difficulties in repairing its Ukrainian gas turbine engines after Russia’s invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine in 2014.
That problem has been surmounted reportedly, and Yantar will receive the renovated engines from a Russian manufacturer (probably NPO Saturn) by spring. We’ll see.
The ship suffered a minor fire due to careless welding almost exactly one year ago. That also likely contributed to the delay.
Under a “medium repair” scheduled for completion by December 2016, Yantar is repairing Neustrashimyy’s hull, screws, and shafts. The ship’s water pumps, firefighting, fuel, electrical, and control systems are also being updated. The yard is reassembling equipment and preparing to relaunch the ship at present.
According to Flotprom.ru, the original deadline was pushed to November 2017, and then to November 2019.
Neustrashimyy in drydock
The 3,800-ton frigate was laid down in 1987 and commissioned in 1993. It has participated in exercises with NATO countries and anti-piracy patrols off Somalia, operated in Russia’s Mediterranean ship group, and conducted many foreign port visits.
Project 11540 stopped at unit 2 Yaroslav Mudryy, which is also part of the Baltic Fleet. Instead of project 11540, the Russian Navy opted to build project 11356 Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates.
Russian Defense Policy 