MOSCOW -- Russia has commissioned a new amphibious assault ship, around a decade and a half after it was first laid down.
After numerous delays due to technical readjustments, Russia has commissioned the lead vessel of Project 11711, Ivan Gren. The amphibious assault ship went enter service at a ceremony attended by Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice-Admiral Viktor Bursuk. Russia first began work on the vessel in 2004 and launched it in 2012.
Ivan Gren underwent sea trials in 2016 and began state trials last year. Another vessel of the class, Pyotr Morgunov, is due to enter service this year as well.
Vice-Admiral Bursuk also addressed some of the other naval programs ongoing at present. Speaking of the development of new types of amphibious assault ships, he stated, "These ships will appear as they are stipulated by the shipbuilding program and they will be built at the second stage of the program’s implementation after 2020.
"The design work on universal amphibious assault ships will begin after we complete designing a large amphibious assault ship," he continued.
TASS also quoted Vice-Admiral Bursuk as discussing the development of a new destroyer, whose fate has been uncertain. He noted, "A preliminary design [of the destroyer] has been made. Following its results, we are now making the necessary decision and work on its technical design will begin shortly and the construction will start after 2020."
The cost of development of the new destroyer has previously prompted speculation that its introduction into service may be delayed for some time to come.
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