Columnist Peter Suciu of The National Interest argues that, if open hostilities were to break out, Russia’s Project 22350 frigates could serve as a key tool against US carrier strike groups. He adds that, in his view, the Russian Navy is unlikely to operate its own aircraft carriers in the foreseeable future.

Instead, Suciu suggests, the Kremlin may focus on countering American carriers with much smaller surface combatants, using them as «sea terminators» designed specifically to hunt down carrier-based fleets. He recalls that these frigates are armed with Kalibr precision-guided missiles and Tsirkon hypersonic missiles, which allow them to strike targets from what he describes as a safe stand-off distance. In this configuration, he believes compact frigates can function as effective A2/AD assets, blocking an opponent’s access to strategically important areas.

Suciu also notes that Admiral Amelko will be the first ship in the series capable of carrying up to 32 cruise missiles in the cells of the universal vertical launch system 3S14. In his assessment, such a loadout effectively turns these frigates into «floating missile trucks».