The vessel was also equipped with two PK-16 and six PK-10 decoy-dispenser system which used chaff as a form of missile defense.

[3] In late September 2008, Neustrashimy left the Baltic Fleet and was sent to the Gulf of Aden waters off the Somali coast to fight piracy in the region.

[citation needed] Russian navy spokesman Captain Igor Dygalo told the Associated Press that the missile frigate Neustrashimy had left the Baltic Sea port of Baltiisk a day before the hijacking to cooperate with other unspecified countries in anti-piracy efforts.

[4] As of 27 October, the frigate was operating independently in the vicinity of a group of NATO warships near the Somali coast.

On 16 November 2008, the frigate prevented pirates from capturing the Saudi Arabian ship MV Rabih.

[8] In July, Neustrashimy was reported to have fired the SA-N-9 air defence missile during its tests at sea.

[14] After leaving Dar es Salaam on 21 September, she docked in Simon's Town on 3 October with the replenishment ship Akademik Pashin in time for the South African Navy Festival.