MOSCOW, June 10 (RIA Novosti) - The Severomorsk destroyer from Russia's Northern Fleet will participate in FRUKUS 2009 international naval exercises in the northern Atlantic on June 22-26, the fleet's press service said Wednesday.

The annual exercises traditionally involve France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

"The Severomorsk destroyer left the fleet's main base today and headed to the French coast to take part in the FRUKUS 2009 international naval exercises on June 22-26," the pres service said.

Severomorsk is an Udaloy-class missile destroyer armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and two Ka-27 Helix helicopters.

The French Tourville frigate, the U.S. Klakring missile frigate and the British York destroyer will also take part in the drills aimed to practice interoperability in anti-piracy operations in coastal waters.

Previously called RUKUS, the exercises were launched in 1988 as a vehicle for dialogue between the Soviet Union, Britain, and the United States. The exercise name was changed to FRUKUS in 2003, when France formally joined the group.

Following the drills, the Russian warship will pay friendly visits to the French port of Cherbourg and the Irish capital, Dublin.