First-in-class Gremyashchiy corvette debuts during Russia's Navy Day

The first-in-class Project 20385 corvette Gremyashchiy made its public debut in Russia’s Navy Day parade in St Petersburg on 28 July.

First-in-class Project 20385 corvette Gremyashchiy in Russia’s Navy Day parade rehearsal in St Petersburg on 25 July. (Russian MoD)

The corvette represents a further development of the Project 20380 Steregushchiy class, from which the Gremyashchiy ’s sensors, communications, and fire control systems are not thought to be significantly different, if at all. The key difference is in the Project 20385’s missile armament. While the Steregushchiy-class corvettes are armed with two quad launchers with containerised Kh-35 (3M24) anti-ship missiles and the 12-cell vertical launch system (VLS) for the Redut (9K96) shipborne surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, Gremyashchiy is fitted with the latest iteration of the Agat Concern’s 3S14 modular VLS and 16-cell Redut SAM VLS.

The latest iteration of the eight-cell 3S14 VLS can be loaded with Kalibr (3M-14) subsonic land-attack cruise missiles (LACMs), 91R1 and 91RT2 anti-submarine rocket-torpedoes, and P-800 Oniks (3M55) supersonic anti-ship missiles with a land attack capability. The Kalibr’s estimated 2,500 km range makes the Gremyashchiy a potent strategic asset. Oniks’ 600 km range and estimated Mach 2 supersonic speed dwarfs the 260 km range and Mach 0.8 subsonic speed of the Kh-35 used by the Steregushchiy class.

Furthermore, the Gremyashchiy features an integrated mast and redesigned superstructure. Its hull was made lighter and stealthier thanks to extensive use of polymer composites developed by the Russian company FGUP Prometey. Likewise, the Gremyashchiy ’s superstructure was constructed from flame retardant plastic. The lighter weight of the Gremyashchiy ’s hull allows heavier armament compared with the Steregushchiy class.