Why is it different to the transition from the Krivak class to Talwar? In both cases the original hull and propulsion layout were retained while the superstructure underwent a major redesign to accommodate RCS reduction, more modern sensors and new weapons. The modifications required are in no way more extensive.

Actually, the 21956 uses new M96 gas turbines, which I believe are among the new family of marine gas turbines being developed by NPO Saturn, and not the old Ukrainian origin turbines. I imagine the shafting for the propulsion systems will be somewhat different as well.

Too late. Only one has not yet been launched, & that one’s almost ready, & all the equipment has been bought for it. They’re cheaper to run than current ships, so it may be cheaper to finish it, & the two fitting out, than scrap them & run on old ships.

Or you could do it the Russian way and scrap them on the yard AND keep the old ships rusting in port with the occasional sea voyage.;)

Isn’t Novella simply the domestic version of Sea Dragon? Why is there a problem if Sea Dragon has already been installed successfully on the Indian IL-38s?

Also, what is the status of the Su-32FN maritime strike fighter? I have not been able to find any technical details on it. What kind of radar will it use? How will it carry and launch ASW warfare gear like MADs and torpedoes? Above all I’d appreciate some pics of these systems.

Thanks. But I stand by what I said. The hull may be a modified version of the Udaloy’s(though the interiors are probably very different, since it’s advertised with a different sonar suite and a propulsion system based on new Russian gas turbines) and the layout of various superstructure elements may be same but the actual elements themselves are different. The SSM launchers are gone, there are fewer masts and superstructure elements, the platform for the second main gun is gone and so on.

The big planar radar IS Tombstone. On the mainmast is Fregat-M and on the rear mast is a smaller member of the fregat family to support the 2 Kashtan units.

A blind man can see the lineage. If you can’t see the resemblance than there is something seriously wrong with your eyes or you are just being obnoxious.

The hull line over the top of the number 543 is exactly the same as on 21956, which has an enclosured rear where the Udaloy has an open rear. The Kashtan on the 21956 is where the two AK630 are on the Udaloy. When you draw the hull line forward from the AK630s and enclose the sides all the way to the bow, you have the 21956. The small rear mast on the 21956 is about where the tall main mast of the Udaloy is. The main mast of the 21956 is abot where the forward stack and secondary mast of the Udaloy are.

Okay… those pics help put it in perspective. But the similarity is fairly slight. It’s not the same as that between the old Krivaks and Talwar; aside from the lower part of the hull and the positioning of some superstructure elements the two designs have very different shapes.

With all that space only six Rif-Ms is a real waste.

Designation: Project 1155 Fregat I / Udaloy-I
Displacement (tons): 6,200-6,700 tons standard, 8,200-8,404 tons full load
Dimensions (m): 163.0 meters long, 19.0-19.7 meters beam, 7.87.9 meters draft

Designation: Project 1155.1 Fregat II /Udaloy-II
Displacement (tons): 6,200-6,700 tons standard, 8,200-8,900 tons full load
Dimensions (m): 163.0-164.0 meters long, 19.3 meters beam, 6.2-8.0 meters draft

From : http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/1155_1-specs.htm

Project 21956 Multi-purpose Ship
Full displacement, tons: ab. 9,000
Overall length, m: 163.0
Overall width, m: 19.00
Mean draught at full displacement, m: 5.55

From: http://spkb.air.spb.ru/en/offers/warships/21956/

Sorry, can’t see much of a resemblance. But in the 21956 pic what is that planar array radar in front of the main mast? It looks like Podberezovik-ET2.

And is the radar on the smaller rear mast the Tombstone illuminator?

“The Americans are interested,” he told BBC News. “They do not have an aircraft with the same capabilities.”

I don’t see why they’d want an aircraft with its capabilities. They have a giant fleet of C-130s for the medium-lift role, and the Globemaster can handle the heavy-lift role far better than the A400M ever could. Any such purchase would be largely motivated by politics rather than necessity.