Ssteregushchiy-class (Project 20380)
Summary
| Origin country | 🇷🇺 Russia |
| Category | Corvette |
| Subtype | Missile corvette |
| Manufacturer | Severnaya Verf, Amur Shipyard |
| Year commissioned | 2008 |
| Approx. unit cost | $120-150 million |
| Units | STEREGUSCHIY (530), SOOBRAZITELNIY (531) |
| Current operators | 🇩🇿 Algeria • 🇷🇺 Russia |
Description
The Steregushchiy class, known in Russian as "Стерегущий" (meaning 'Guarding') and designated as Project 20380, represents a series of corvettes built for the Russian Navy. These ships, designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, are larger than typical corvettes, leading NATO to classify them as frigates. The Steregushchiy class has evolved into the Gremyashchiy class (Project 20385) and Project 20386 subclasses, with an export variant named Project 20382 Tigr.
These multipurpose corvettes, intended to replace the Grisha class, are built for operations in littoral zones, engaging enemy submarines and surface ships, and supporting landing operations. The first batch was constructed at the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg, with a second line at Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The Russian Navy plans to acquire at least 30 units for its major fleets.
The first vessel was commissioned on November 14, 2007. By 2020, additional orders were placed for ten new vessels, split between Project 20380 and Project 20385, with construction to begin in 2021.
The design of these corvettes features a steel hull and a composite material superstructure, employing stealth technology and advanced radar-absorbent materials. The armament includes the Uran anti-ship missiles, Redut air defense missiles, A-190 100mm naval gun, and 330mm torpedo tubes. The export version, Project 20382 Tigr, offers different armaments, including SS-N-26 and SS-N-25 missiles.
In 2007, the Indonesian Navy showed interest in acquiring these vessels, but later opted for Ada-class corvettes from Turkey. The first contract for Project 20382 Tigr was signed with Algeria in 2011 for two ships.
Operational history highlights include the commissioning of several ships in the class between 2007 and 2023, with deployments in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, as well as participation in large-scale Russian naval exercises. These exercises often coincided with or responded to NATO activities, displaying Russia's naval capabilities.
Recent joint drills in the East China Sea in 2022 with the Chinese Navy, involving corvettes like Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov and Sovershennyy, signify the ongoing operational significance and strategic use of the Steregushchiy class in global maritime affairs.
Technical specifications
| Ssteregushchiy | |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1900 tons |
| Range | 7000 km at 14 knots |
| Endurance | 15 days |
| Crew | 90 members |
| Width | 13.0 m (42.7 ft) |
| Length | 104.5 m (342.8 ft) |
| Air Park | 1 Kamov Ka-27 |
| Propulsion | 2 gas turbines of 20,000 hp and 2 diesel engines of 7,300 hp |
| Thrust | 27300 hp |
| Armament | 8 SS-N-25 + 1 100mm AK-190 gun + 2 CADS-N-1 + 2 14.5mm machine guns + 4 TR-203 T/ASMs + 1 Ka-27 Helix ASM |
| Maximum speed | 27 knots |