GarryB Sat Jun 18, 2022 11:10 pm
Exactly. If you add VLS cells and Tor, it is not a patrol ship anymore.
True, but if they moved the helicopter hangar back to closer to the rear the middle section could be left free for modular use for a range of options... perhaps a second helicopter, or a launch structure for extra missiles, or some sort of EW station, or even a naval infantry section with troops accomodated for use in the helicopter deployment and also zodiac type roles or divers.
The current use with the pad at the rear with a flat open space that has to be kept clear to get the helicopter to and from the pad from the hangar is not very efficient in terms of the use of space.
You could flatten the tops of each side of the corridor and have the surface of the corridor as a lift, so instead of a rear mounted pad and a long corridor and then a hangar in the front of the ship you could move the helicopter out of the hangar and while in the corridor raise it up a deck level and have the helicopter pad as part of the corridor. That would leave the entire rear of the ship where the helicopter pad is currently located for a range of options including missiles or speed boats or containers etc etc.
Either way... they ordered the boats and they approved the designs and they have decided they don't want any more... not a big deal.... that sort of thing happens.
The point is that the fact that they are testng TOR on these vessels suggests they are making a new less bulky model designed for operations on smaller lighter vessels... the cold launch and cheap command guided missiles are ideal for 360 degree coverage no matter when the launch tubes are located.
The extra cost of the AESA radars will likely pay off with better situational awareness and the new mini TOR missiles for anti drone use will equally be valuable too, though obviously some sort of mass produced laser anti drone system would be valuable too.
Saying not every Russian ship needs to be an air defence vessel ignores Russian Naval and Army policy on air defence... which is not to ignore it and leave it to the Air Force to solve.
The new 10-20kg missiles for self defence to be used in enormous numbers might be fitted to all sorts of land, sea, and air platforms.