The Russian Pacific Fleet reported that its Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate successfully fired Kalibr-NK cruise missiles and Uran anti-ship missiles during naval exercises in the Sea of Japan, according to Russian news agency TASS. The drill, which also included naval aircraft and drones, highlights Moscow’s intent to showcase its maritime strike capabilities in a region where U.S., Japanese, and South Korean forces regularly conduct joint operations. The exercise comes amid rising regional tensions over Japan’s nuclear policy debates and ongoing instability on the Korean Peninsula.
Originally commissioned in 1985 as an anti-submarine destroyer, Marshal Shaposhnikov underwent major modernization starting in 2016, transforming it into a multi-role frigate equipped with modern strike systems. The addition of Kalibr-NK missiles, capable of striking land and naval targets at ranges up to 1,500 km, and Uran missiles for short- to medium-range maritime targets, turned the vessel into a versatile precision-strike platform. Since returning to active service in 2021, it has enhanced the Pacific Fleet’s capability to conduct long-range precision strikes while supporting coastal defense operations.
The Kalibr system has seen extensive combat use in Ukraine and Syria, demonstrating effectiveness against both land and naval targets. Paired with Uran missiles, the frigate now provides layered strike options, offering flexibility in responding to a variety of threats in contested waters. These exercises follow recent Russian Tu-95MS bomber flights over the Sea of Japan, signaling Moscow’s intent to maintain a credible deterrent in East Asia while projecting power across multiple theaters.
By conducting these drills near Japanese waters, Russia emphasizes its capability to challenge regional security initiatives led by the U.S. and its allies, and to maintain a visible military presence despite ongoing operations in Ukraine. The Marshal Shaposhnikov’s missile launches underline Moscow’s strategy of modernizing legacy platforms to deliver potent, high-profile demonstrations of naval power.
