ISTANBUL

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that he is confident that the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, re-entering into service with new weaponry, will be “reliable” in protecting the country.

“I am sure that such powerful weapons will reliably protect Russia from potential external threats and will help ensure the national interests of our country,” Putin said at a ceremony marking the frigate’s re-entry into combat service.

Putin also said the frigate’s re-entry into service is an “important, if not a significant event,” and that it is now equipped with the latest weaponry, including a Zircon hypersonic missile system, which, he said, “has no analogs.”

The ceremony was also attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, who announced that the frigate will embark on a voyage across the Atlantic and Indian oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.

Shoygu said the frigate’s effort will be focused on countering threats against Russia, as well as “maintaining regional peace and stability jointly with friendly countries."

"During exercises and training, the crew's actions to use hypersonic weapons and long-range cruise missiles in various conditions will be practiced," Shoygu also said, adding that the frigate’s new missile system is “guaranteed to overcome any modern and advanced air defense and missile defense systems.”

The Admiral Gorshkov frigate entered into service in 2018 as part of the country’s Northern Fleet and arrived at the administrative base of the Northern Fleet in the city of Severomorsk in December, after recent scheduled maintenance at the Kronstadt Marine Plant.

Putin announced during an address on July 30 last year that the frigate will be the first to be equipped with a Zircon hypersonic missile system, which is capable of developing a speed nine times the speed of sound, and its striking range capability could exceed 1,000 kilometers (621.3 miles).​​​​​​​