According to information published by Dzen on September 27, 2023, Russia's Ministry of Defense reported the launch of two Karakurt class corvettes, Rzhev and Udomlya, at the Amur Shipbuilding Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. These vessels are designated for the Pacific Fleet.
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Russian Karakurt class corvettes Udomlya. (Picture source: Tass)
The ceremonial launch marked the completion of the first two Project 22800 corvettes, constructed specifically for the Pacific Fleet, the Defense Ministry stated.
Following further outfitting and rigorous testing, the ships will join the combat ranks of the Russian Navy within the stipulated timeframe, as mentioned by Ilyas Shigapov, the head of the Navy's shipbuilding department.
While four shipyards are currently involved in producing ships for Project 22800, this is the maiden venture into such shipbuilding for the facility in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Moreover, two more hulls related to the same project are presently under construction at the Amur Shipbuilding Plant, the Ministry of Defense added.
About the corvette
The ship has a displacement of 800 tons, which was adjusted to 860 tons after the first two vessels were constructed. She measures 67 meters in length (or 220 ft) and has a beam of 11 meters (equivalent to 36 ft). The draft of the ship is recorded at 3.3 meters (about 11 ft).
Her propulsion system is based on a CODAD mechanism, employing 3 Zvezda M-507D1 112 c or 16D49 16D500 12V ZE1600KZ diesel engines. These engines are further complemented by 3 DGAS-315 diesel generators.
The ship can achieve speeds of 30 knots, translating to 56 km/h or 35 mph. She has a range of 2,500 nautical miles, which is approximately 4,600 km or 2,900 mi, and can operate continuously for up to 15 days. Onboard, she can accommodate a crew ranging from 50 to 70 personnel.
For navigation and detection, the ship is equipped with a range of sensors and processing systems, including the Mineral-M radar, Pozitiv-M 1.2 3D radar, and others.
Her armament consists of various automatic guns, CIWS systems, and anti-ship cruise missiles. Additionally, the corvette equipped with machine guns for closer combat scenarios. To aid in reconnaissance, the ship has provisions for an Orlan-10 UAV launcher.
