Russian frigate with hypersonic missiles through the Channel, Dutch fleet follows

A modern Russian frigate with hypersonic missiles has passed through the Channel. The ship was in the shadow of British naval vessels during its voyage. The Dutch fleet also confirms that it followed the ship on its journey; for example, images released by the Russian navy show a Dutch coast guard aircraft.

Under international shipping laws, Russia is allowed to navigate the Channel, including by naval vessels. It is common for the armed forces of the surrounding countries to keep a close eye on these ships. “It happens often,” said a spokesman for the Dutch navy. “Because of the state of the world, they are being watched a little more. “

In this case it was the new Admiral Golovko, who is making a long journey for the first time. The Northern Fleet ship, named after a Second World War admiral, was delivered in December and set sail from the Severomorsk base earlier this month on a round-the-world cruise. In the last few days, the multifunctional frigate has already trained in the Barents and the North Sea.

In a press release, the Russian Navy writes that the Golovko also conducted exercises in the Channel, such as anti-terrorist training and evasive maneuvers for sea and air attacks. The Northern Fleet previously said the visit is aimed at “ensuring the presence of navies in isolated strategic waters”.

International cruise ships appear more frequently on international shipping routes to ensure continuity. So chose Sr Tha Ms. Trump earlier this year another route between Taiwan and China to emphasize the international right of free passage in the Taiwan Strait.

The Russians have been sailing through the Channel like this regularly since the Cold War. In September, the British Navy escorted four more Russian ships through the strait. “By maintaining a visible and consistent presence, the Royal Navy demonstrates its commitment to the NATO alliance and maritime security,” a Navy spokesman previously said of the tracking.

“The Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

What is new about the corridor in recent days is that the Golovko is equipped with hypersonic missiles Zircon. These new generation cruise missiles are difficult to intercept because of their speed.

The Zircons have a range of 900 kilometers. Since they can reach a speed of 10,000 kilometers per hour, an opponent hardly has time to react when they are fired. Anti-aircraft guns have less chance of shooting the missiles out of the air.

The missiles are mainly intended to be used against other ships, but Russia makes them from the beginning of this year also used for attacks on ground targets in Ukraine.

Russia released images of the Zircon test with a sister ship of the Golovko in 2022: