Russia's largest engine manufacturer will soon sign a deal to supply ship turbines for a new class of frigates after a prior deal to receive the engines from Ukraine was blocked by Kiev, news agency RIA Novosti reported Tuesday.
"We expect the signing of a contract with the Northern Wharf [shipyard] for the delivery of three engines for [Russian] frigates any day now," said Vladislav Masalov, CEO of Russia's United Engine-Building Corporation.
The engines, known as M-90s, will be used to power Russia's new Admiral Gorshkov-class (Project 22350) frigates.
Engines for Russian naval vessels have historically been produced in Ukraine, but last year Kiev banned export of these complex and valuable military components in response to Moscow's annexation of Crimea in March of 2014.
The decision torpedoed Russian naval expansion plans, forcing construction to be suspended on three Gorshkov-class frigates for several years while Russian producers developed domestic alternatives to the Ukrainian engines.
The first deliveries of the Russian engines are expected in 2019, delaying completion of the Admiral Gorshkov-class ships by two to three years.
