Russian gas turbine manufacturer NPO-Saturn is starting serial production of marine gas turbines for use in Russian naval vessel construction.
This was announced by Russian state corporation Rostec following a visit of Russian deputy defense minister Yuri Borisov to the gas turbine production facility.
More specifically, the turbines are to be used on the second batch of Russian Project 11356 frigates whose construction was put on hold after Ukrainian gas turbine-builder Zorya-Mashproyekt refused to deliver gas turbines to Russia following the 2014 Crimea conflict.
Russia completed construction on the first three vessels in the class with all three having entered service by the end of 2017.
The fate of the second three frigates was unknown with speculation including their sale to India, a move considered possible because the Indian Navy already operates Kriwak-class frigates – an export version of the Project 11356 ships.
The navy’s deputy commander for armaments Vice Admiral Viktor Bursukn denied the rumors in July 2017, saying Admiral Istomin, Admiral Butakov and Admiral Kornilov would be finished fro the Russian Navy. The fifth and sixth Project 11356 frigates Admiral Istomin and Admiral Kornilov were launched in November 2017.