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The first running tests of the Russian Navy’s Project 22800 Karakurt-class guided missile corvette “Sovetsk” were successfully passed in Lake Ladoga, Russian Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo told Interfax on May 28th.
“The crew and the test team fully carried out the program of the first test phase, which verified the ship’s performance and the functioning of a number of life support systems,” Dygalo said.
He noted that “Sovetsk” is intended for “carrying combat operations in the near-sea zone (green waters) and it can carry out tasks both in peacetime and wartime, independently and in cooperation with other vessels.”
According to reports, the Project 22800 Karakurt-class guided missile corvette is intended to be a more seaworthy, blue water complement to the Buyan-M class corvettes.
The Project 22800 corvette is 67 m long and 11 m wide and has a full displacement of approximately 860 t and a draught of 2.8 m. The ship is powered by two M-507D-1 diesel engines with a power output of 7,360 kWt each and an 8,830-kWt M70FRU gas-turbine powerplant. The corvette features a top speed of up to 35 knots, an economical speed of 12 knots, a cruising range of 2,500 nautical miles, and an endurance of 12 days.
The ship launches missile at Level 5 sea state (2.5 to 4 meters, rough) and has a Level 9 sea state (over 14 meters, phenomenal) seaworthiness. The ship`s armament suite comprises an AK-176MA 76 mm naval gun and a Pantsir-ME anti-aircraft gun-missile (AAGM) system.
The first two ships, the Uragan and Sovetsk are further fitted with two AK-630M close-in weapon systems each instead of the Pantsir-ME. Subsequent ships will have navalized Greyhound mounted on them.
The AAGM system features an ammunition load of 40 missiles, including eight ready-use on a launcher and 32 in an under-deck storage system.
The ship is also equipped with an eight-cell 3S-14 vertical launch system for the Kalibr (SS-N-27 Sizzler) cruise missile system, which is located in the platform`s superstructure.
It is also capable of carrying an Orlan-10 UAV, and features increased seaworthiness, high maneuverability, and low radar signature of its superstructure and hull.
The Sovetsk is expected to be delivered to the Baltic Fleet ready to be used by the end of 2019, Admiral Alexander Nosatov, the commander of the Baltic Fleet said.
The Sovetsk was initially called Taifun when construction started on it back in 2015. Initially, the engines for the ship were expected in 2017, but due to a deal for an undisclosed reason actually arrived in December 2018.
Most recently, the latest ship – the Tucha – was laid down at the Zelenodolsk Shipyard on February 26th, 2019.
The head of the Navy`s shipbuilding department Rear Admiral Vladimir Tryapichnikov said the service would get no fewer than 18 Project 22800 corvettes with a possible option for several more ships of the type. “These surface combatants will be constructed at the shipyards that are located in the Far East, the Republic of Tatarstan, and the Northwestern Region,” said Tryapichnikov. He added that personnel was already undergoing training on how to operate the Project 22800.
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