Latest Project 20380 corvette embarks on sea trials
The newest The Project 20380 (Steregushchiy-class) corvette Merkuriy pictured during sea trials in the Baltic. (Photo: WRK)
The newest Project 20380 (Steregushchiy-class) corvette for the Russian Navy has begun sea trials in the Baltic.
Images of the vessel, formerly Retiviy but since renamed Merkuriy, emerged on 21 May on social media.
The vessel was laid down in February 2015 and was launched in March 2020, with the original intention of assigning it to the Black Sea Fleet.
However, this plan is likely to change as Turkey invoked a clause in the Montreux Convention that bans new vessels from entering the Black Sea during a time of war.
A total of 18 Steregushchiy-class corvettes have been ordered. Merkuriy will be the eighth Project 20380 vessel to enter Russian Navy service if it completes its trial period successfully.
The corvettes each displace 2,200t, are 104.5m long , have a beam of 11m and a draught of 3.7m.
Their maximum speed is 27kt and the vessels have a range of 3,800nmi at 14kt.
Project 20380 corvettes are armed with Kh-35, 3M-54 and Grisson missiles. The main gun is an Arsenal A190 100mm weapon supported by two 30mm six-barrelled AK-630M automatic gun mounts that can fire up to 5,000 rounds a minute with a range of 5,000m.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Steregushchy Class (Project 20380) (1-10)
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
Newest US Coast Guard cutters go after Chinese vessels sailing in the Arctic
Cutters Earl Cunningham and Storis have been monitoring five Beijing research vessels navigating in the North Pole.
-
US Navy selects 25 companies for up to $1.9 billion nuclear submarine contract
The multi-award contract will support the scheduled repair and maintenance of nuclear-powered attack submarines at the US Navy’s primary public shipyards.
-
DSEI 2025: Skana’s new autonomous maritime platforms signal company’s shift towards scalable assets
The Israeli defence technology company has taken the wraps off two autonomous vessels ahead of DSEI as it sets its sights on scalability and cost reduction.
-
Which countries could the US rely on to progress with its shipbuilding programmes?
The US Navy and US Coast Guard (USCG) are in critical need of support to build icebreakers, surface vessels and submarines.