Gremyashchy (Project 20385)-class corvettes are being built by JSC Severnaya Verf for the Russian Navy. Credit: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.
The keel-laying ceremony of the lead ship, Gremyashchy, was held in February 2012.
The Gremyashchy-class vessels are powered by four 16D49 diesel engines.
The Gremyashchy-class corvettes are scheduled to be launched in May 2017.

Gremyashchy class (Project 20385) is an advanced variant of Steregushchy class (Project 20380) multi-purpose corvettes, which have been in service with the Russian Navy since 2007.

The ships are designed by Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau based on the Steregushchy-class, in order to replace the ageing fleet of the Russian Navy.

JSC Severnaya Verf, a ship-building company based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, was contracted by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation to construct the Gremyashchy-class ships.

Featuring stealth design, the corvettes are intended for missions such as patrolling coastal waters, maritime security, anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-air warfare (AAW).

Gremyashchy-class corvettes construction

Construction on the Project 20385-class began in May 2011. The keel for the lead corvette in the class, named Gremyashchy, was laid in February 2012, and the installation of main engines was completed in May 2016. The ship is expected to be launched in May 2017.

Construction on Provorny (Agile), the second ship in the class, was started in April 2013. The vessel is intended for the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet.

Gremyashchy-class design and features

The corvette’s hull is built using steel, while its superstructure is made of composite materials. The vessel is designed to have low radar, acoustic, magnetic, visual and infrared signatures.

The length and widths of the vessel are 104m and 13m, respectively, and the draught is approximately 8m. With a displacement of 2,200t, the corvette can carry up to 99 crew members and a number of mission modules.

The ship is operated from an enclosed bridge located amidships. A variety of radar systems are installed in the vessel to detect and localise enemy ships, submarines, aircraft and shore-based targets.

The Gremyashchy-class is provided with a flight deck at the aft to provide take-off/landing for a single anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter of type Kamov Ka-27PL/Ka-27PS Helix. The helicopter is stored in a large hangar fitted at the aft.

Armament of Gremyashchy-class corvettes

A 100mm А190-01 lightweight multi-purpose naval artillery gun is mounted in the bow to engage enemy surface ships, coastal and air targets. With a rate of fire of 80rpm, the weapon can travel to a distance of 20km.

An eight-cell UKSK vertical launch system is installed to deploy Caliber-NK long-range cruise missiles for protection against surface and shore-based targets at ranges up to 300km.

The corvette is armed with two 30mm AK-630M close-in weapons systems for defence against enemy aircraft. A 16-cell launcher is provided for Redoubt anti-aircraft missile complex, which uses a number of 9K96 surface-to-air missiles to defend air targets.

The on-board Paket anti-submarine system provides self-defence for the vessel against enemy submarines and torpedoes.

Propulsion details

The Gremyashchy-class corvette is powered by two 1DDA 12000 marine diesel-diesel units, each consisting of two 16D49 diesel engines and reverse gear block. Developed by PJSC Kolomensky Zavod, the DDA-12000 unit generates an output power of 12,000hp.

The vessel is further fitted with two five-blade fixed-pitch propellers driven by the diesel engines through two shafts.

Gremyashchy-class multi-purpose corvettes performance

The Gremyashchy-class corvettes have a speed of 27k and a cruising range of 3,500 miles. They are capable of performing missions for up to 15 days.

The ship’s bulbous bow offers increased speed and fuel efficiency by reducing drag.