Russian Navy to commission third Steregushchy-class ship

Russian Navy's Project 20380-class lead ship, Steregushchy

8 May 2013 naval-technology.com

The Russian Navy is set to receive its third Steregushchy-class (Project 20380) corvette, Boiky, on 16 May from St Petersburg's Severnaya Verf shipyard.

Built at Severnaya Verf, Boiky has completed sea trials and was put through a series of final tests at the shipyard to validate its capabilities, as reported by RIA Novosti.

Designed by Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, the Steregushchy-class corvette has a displacement capacity of 2,000t, is capable of reaching a speed of 27k, and can accommodate a crew of 100, including helicopter maintenance personnel.

The corvette is armed with Kh-35 missiles, 3M-54 Klub missiles and Arsenal A-190 100mm naval gun, as well as two 30mm six-barrelled AK-630M automatic gun mounts, fitted with two quadruple torpedo tubes for Paket-E/NK anti-torpedo missiles.

"The ship provides artillery support for beach landings and can also destroy enemy surface ships, submarines and aircraft."

Featuring stealth technology to reduce secondary radar fields, as well as acoustic, infrared, magnetic and visual signatures, the ship provides artillery support for beach landings and can also destroy enemy surface ships, submarines and aircraft.

Powered by a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion system, the 20380-class vessels are fitted with Sigma combat information management system, Zarya-ME sonar suite, TK-25E-5 ECM system and PK-10E decoy system.

The first corvette, Steregushchy, is already in service with Russia's Baltic Fleet, while the second ship, Soobrazitelny, joined the navy in 2011.

The fourth vessel Stoyky was rolled-out at St Petersburg's Severnaya Verf shipyard in May 2012 and is scheduled to enter service in November, following a series of sea trials.

Around 30 Steregushchy-class ships are being considered for procurement by the country in a bid to safeguard oil and gas transportation routes in the Black and the Baltic seas, as well as protect its coastal waters.