The crew of the Russian Navy's Vice Admiral Kulakov (photo), an Udaloy-class destroyer, has held air defense exercises in the Mediterranean, the Russian Defense Ministry’s Northern Fleet spokesman Vadim Serga said Tuesday.
“Large anti-submarine destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov, carrying out tasks as part of Russia’s permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean, held an air defense drill involving the crews of Kinzhal surface-to-air missile systems, the AK-100 universal caliber automatic cannon and the AK-630 small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery,” Serga said.
Earlier this month, Navy Ship Building Directorate Head Captain 1st rank Vladimir Tryapichnikov said Russia’s Navy will get 42 ships and supply vessels in 2016.
Construction work will begin on another 15 ships and supply vessels, the captain added.
“In 2016, we are planning to receive a total of 42 surface ships, boats and supply vessels,” Tryapichnikov said.
Russia is currently carrying out a 19-trillion ruble ($260-billion) rearmament program, announced in 2010, to achieve a 70% modernization of its military hardware by 2020.
