The lead small rocket ship of Project 22800 Uragan entered factory sea trials May 18th, 2018
As reported from St. Petersburg, on May 17, 2018, the lead small rocket ship was sent to factory sea trials (SHT). "Hurricane"(serial number 251) of project 22800 (code "Karakurt"), built at the Leningrad Shipyard "Pella" JSC (Otradnoye, Leningrad region). The ship was taken by tugs from the plant along the Neva to Lake Ladoga, in the waters of which the ZHI will take place State tests of a small rocket ship (SMR) "Hurricane" will be held in the Baltic Sea.
Project 22800 was developed by JSC Central Marine Design Bureau "Almaz" (St. Petersburg) and should actually replace the MRK project 21631 (code "Buyan-M") developed by JSC "Zelenodolsk Design Bureau" (the construction of the latter is limited) in construction for the Russian Navy 12 units). It is known that the Russian Navy plans to have at least 18 MRKs of Project 22800. The construction of the first seven MRKs of Project 22800 is carried out by the Pella plant under a contract received in accordance with the order of the Government of the Russian Federation on this company receiving the status of the sole supplier for this project.
Laying ceremony for the Russian Navy of the first two small missile ships of Project 22800 "Hurricane"(serial number 251) and "Typhoon"(serial number 252) at the Pella plant on December 24, 2015. Launching of MRK "Hurricane" was July 29, 2017. The contractual delivery date for the Uragan was 2017, but, as is now obvious, the ship will enter service with the Russian Navy only by the end of 2018. RTO "Typhoon" was launched on November 24, 2017, and will probably be delivered within the contract period by the end of 2018. According to available information, the first two RTOs will be part of the Baltic Fleet.
Third RTO "Squall"(serial number 253) was at the Pella plant on July 29, 2016 and on the water on May 5, 2018. On December 24, 2016, the fourth RTO of this project was installed at the Pella plant "Storm"(serial number 257).
Since the Pella plant is the main investor of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Shipbuilding Plant "More" in Feodosia (Crimea), and in November 2016 received the capacity of the latter on lease for a period until December 31, 2020, then, accordingly, of the seven RTOs of project 22800 ordered " Pelle", three ships should be built at NW "More" in close cooperation with "Pella", which led to the transfer of the construction of three units to Feodosia. The first RTO of this project "Storm"(serial number 254) was in Feodosia on May 10, 2016, the second "Okhotsk"(serial number 255) - in Feodosia on March 17, 2017, and the third "Vortex"(serial number 256) - was December 19, 2017. RTOs under construction in Feodosia received construction numbers from 254 to 256 “in the row” of construction numbers for this project at Pella.
On August 5, 2016, a contract was signed by the Russian Ministry of Defense for the construction of five more small missile ships of Project 22800 for the Navy by JSC Zelenodolsk Plant named after A.M. Gorky (Zelenodolsk). At the same time, since the end of 2014, the Zelenodolsk plant actually received temporary management of the Zaliv Shipbuilding Plant LLC in Kerch (Crimea). According to unofficial information, the head Zelenodolsk MRK of project 22800, called "Cyclone"(serial number 801), was laid down without much publicity at the Zaliv shipyard in Kerch in the summer of 2016. Currently, the Zaliv plant is already building the next two RTOs of Project 22800 with serial numbers 802 (it was also laid down in 2016) and 803.
May 5, 2018 at the launch ceremony of the RTO "Squall" Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia Yuri Borisov said that in 2019 the Ministry of Defense plans to conclude a contract for six small missile ships of Project 22800 for the Pacific Fleet. Four of them will be built at Amur Shipyard JSC (Komsomolsk-on-Amur) and two at Vostochnaya Verf JSC (Vladivostok).
The lead small rocket ship "Uragan" (serial number 251) of project 22800 (code "Karakurt"), built at the Leningrad Shipyard "Pella" JSC, is being launched along the Neva for factory sea trials, which will take place on Lake Ladoga. 05/17/2018 (c) Curious / forums.airbase.ru
On Thursday, at the Pella shipbuilding enterprise (St. Petersburg), two small missile ships (SMRs) of the new project 22800 Karakurt were solemnly laid down. The main advantage of these very modest in size, but quite powerful combat units (with a displacement of only 800 tons) is that each will be equipped with eight high-precision long-range Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, which have already proven their effectiveness in Syria. Another set of weapons is for the same number of Onyx supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles (firing range - up to 500 kilometers).
The combat potential of the Karakurts is not limited to missile weapons. They will also have 100-mm or 76-mm universal automatic artillery mounts, and the Pantsir-M or Palma anti-aircraft missile and gun system. The length of each ship is 60 meters, width - 9 meters, draft - 4 meters. Speed - up to 30 knots. Cruising range - up to 2500 miles. From which it follows that promising RTOs, like their predecessors of Project 1234, are intended to be used mainly in the near sea zone.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, both future ships have already received formidable names - “Typhoon” and “Hurricane”. Quite in the traditions of our famous “bad weather divisions”, the basis of which in recent decades has been and continues to be small missile ships of the previous generation - “Cloud”, “Storm”, “Mirage”, “Nakat”, “Zyb” ...
“Typhoon” and “Hurricane” are expected to be introduced alternately into the operational composition of the Black Sea Fleet in 2017 and 2018. In total, it is planned to build a series of ten such RTOs. In addition to the Black Sea, they are expected, as stated at the Navy General Staff, in the Baltic and Pacific fleets. For some reason, the Northern Fleet was not on this list. Perhaps because there, in the harsh conditions of the Arctic, they are going to send reinforcements more powerful and more impressive in size.
In a word, it would seem that this is good news in all respects. Our sailors have long been waiting for at least some kind of replenishment of their very outdated formations of surface ships. But there are several circumstances that suggest that not everything is so simple with the new Russian small missile ships.
A dozen of even the most remarkable Karakurt MRKs for not even four, but only three Russian fleets is very little. There are only three, and somewhere around four units per huge naval theater of military operations. What does this mean, for example, for the Pacific Ocean? Especially when you consider that such small ships are simply not able to conduct combat operations alone far from their bases. Otherwise, with their not very strong air defense system, you can end up on the sea or ocean floor before you have time to fire your own “Caliber” or “Onyx”.
Of course, the General Staff of the Navy understands the problem. And quite recently they made completely different plans there. At least last summer Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Viktor Chirkov, answering the question about the size of the future Karakurt series, answered quite definitely: “Minimum 18 units.”
But then, apparently, strict people from the Ministry of Finance intervened and began to cut to the quick the shipbuilding program. Given the raging economic crisis, it would be good if they did this to Karakurt one last time.
Second. One of the main disadvantages of the Soviet Navy has always been the diversity of warships designed to solve the same tasks. Let's say, at one time, at the neighboring berths of the 7th operational squadron and the 2nd anti-submarine warfare division in Severomorsk there were large anti-submarine ships of projects 1134a, 1155, 57a, 61 and 1135 (only from the beginning of the 90s the last two began to be called patrol ships). Built at different times, they had completely different weapons, radar and sonar stations, and many other instruments and mechanisms. Which entailed complex staff planning, expensive and cumbersome logistics support, a huge range of fuels and lubricants and spare parts, and simply an immense coastal training base.
Our potential opponents have never done this. In the US Navy, if they start a series of cruisers, destroyers or frigates, they rivet them in large numbers and “as a carbon copy.” For example, the Americans built 51 frigates “Oliver Perry” from 1977 to 1989. Destroyers of the “Arleigh Burke” type from 1988 to the present time have produced 62 and are going to launch 13 more.
In Soviet times, we did not spare money for the Navy and did not count it, so we could afford any extravagance. But now? Now why do we need so many projects of the same small rocket ships?
Well, okay, let’s take out of the brackets the Project 1234 “Gadfly” MRKs of various modifications built in the Soviet Union with P-120 anti-ship cruise missiles. In the end, their time is running out; there are only twelve such ships left in service on all four of our fleets and they need replacement.
It seemed that it was coming in the form of small missile ships of Project 21631 Buyan-M. The very same three of which (“Uglich”, “Grad Sviyazhsk” and “Veliky Ustyug”) on October 7, for the first time in history, triumphantly struck Kalibr-NK cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea at targets in Syria. "Buyan-M" all over the world were immediately recognized as very successful and modern: no one but us has yet been able to squeeze such a formidable (in fact, strategic!) weapon into such cramped ship hulls.
Sketch of the corvette pr.21631 "Buyan-M" (Photo: vpk.name)
In addition to the Uglich, Grad Sviyazhsk and Veliky Ustyug, their sister ships, the small missile ships Serpukhov and Zeleny Dol, were launched in Zelenodolsk. Both were sent to Sevastopol, just completed tests and entered the operational composition of the Black Sea Fleet. And they have not yet fired at the enemy in Syria with “Calibers” from the Sevastopol Mine Wall, apparently only because in that case they would have to fire through Turkish territory, which has recently been unfriendly to us.
But in Zelenodolsk, four more Buyana-Ms continue to be built for the Black Sea residents - Vyshny Volochek, Orekhovo-Zuevo, Ingushetia and Grayvoron. Moreover, according to the plan, the fleet should receive the Ingushetia in 2017, and the Grayvoron in 2018. That is, exactly when in St. Petersburg they are going to complete the construction of the Typhoon and Hurricane laid down there this week. With the same eight Kalibr-NK or Oniks cruise missiles on each. For the same 41st brigade of missile boats of the Black Sea Fleet.
Are we stepping on the same rake again? Maybe it’s still worth deciding what the Black Sea Fleet needs more - the Buyany-M or the more seaworthy, judging by the initial characteristics, the Karakurt? And should we stop building some series to save money? Well, or severely limit it by investing the remaining money in the most suitable ships? Taking into account the fact that Buyany-M was originally intended only for navigation in the shallow waters of the Volga and the Caspian Sea. And for this purpose they are even equipped with water-jet propulsors, which no one would have thought of installing on RTOs if someone had assumed in advance that they would have to plow the stormy Black and Mediterranean Seas, and not the much more gentle Volga and Caspian Seas.
And one more circumstance. Why did we, in the presence of the Buyanov-M, tested in combat conditions and amazed the world, suddenly take on the Karakurts? Moreover, they took it in emergency mode? After all, the same Chirkov, just a few months ago, promised the laying of the lead and first production RTO of this project only in 2016. Engineers and designers with preparation, as it became clear today, were forced to meet the deadline at least several months earlier. Why did it happen?
The whole point is that, apparently, our affairs are bad with the construction of six frigates of Project 11356 (the so-called “Admiral series”) at the Kaliningrad Yantar plant. The sanctions imposed by Ukraine led to the fact that gas turbine engines built in its city of Nikolaev were received for only half of the ships planned for launch (Admiral Grigorovich, Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov). Three more frigates (“Admiral Butakov”, “Admiral Istomin” and “Admiral Kornilov”) will have to be supplied with our own, domestic ones. Which still need to be created in an almost bare place. For such complex ship units have never been made in Russia.
Engine builders from Rybinsk and St. Petersburg are doing everything possible, but they don’t promise to get the replacement done before 2020. The last three “admirals” are also detained accordingly. So it was decided to replace them with “Karakurts” as soon as possible. Small missile ships, in which everything down to the last rivet is Russian, can be brought to fruition much faster than frigates, whose displacement is four times greater.
Actually, Admiral Chirkov spoke about this on July 1 of this year: “In order for us to keep up with the pace of ship construction, to replace, for example, Project 11356, we are starting to build a new series - small missile ships, corvettes with cruise missiles on board - Project 22800".
Great, but how complete will the replacement be? To what extent can a small near-sea combat ship be able to replace a large frigate built for the ocean? They are incomparable neither in terms of seaworthiness, nor in terms of voyage range and duration, nor in terms of electronic and anti-aircraft weapons. There will be no anti-submarine weapons on the Karakurts at all. And frigates have it. There is even an anti-submarine helicopter.
There is only one similarity: missile weapons. That's why everything is done.
The Project 11356 frigate has exactly the same number of Kalibr-NK missiles as the Karakurt or Buyan-M - eight each. And considering that with a maximum firing range of 2.5 thousand kilometers, almost any target in Europe or the Middle East can be hit with these cruise missiles without leaving Sevastopol Bay, seaworthiness, cruising range and other tactical and technical characteristics are greatly reduced.
So, perhaps, we now have no need for extremely expensive large warships in the distant ocean zone? Shall we make do with “Karakurt” and “Buyan”?
We won't get by. If only because, in addition to Europe and the Middle East, there is also America in the world. So the replacement is still temporary.
Current plans for the development of the navy include the construction of a large number of small missile ships of several designs. Over time, one of the main representatives of this class will be the Project 22800 Karakurt ships. Currently, several similar ships are being built at once, one of which has already been launched. According to the Ministry of Defense, a second one will follow in the very near future.
On November 5, the Department of Information and Mass Communications of the Russian Ministry of Defense published new information about current work in the field of military shipbuilding and plans for the near future. It is reported that the Typhoon small rocket ship will be launched in November of this year. This ship is the first serial ship built according to Project 22800. As the military reminds, the lead ship of the Karakurt project, named Hurricane, is already at the berth of the shipbuilding enterprise and is being completed afloat.
The construction of the lead and first production Karakurt is being carried out at the Pella plant in St. Petersburg. In the recent past, this company received a large order for seven small rocket ships. More than half of this order will be fulfilled at the production facilities in Otradnoye. The Pella site in Crimea is also involved in the work.
The delivery dates for the first two ships of Project 22800 were not specified in the new message from the Ministry of Defense. However, it was previously stated that Hurricane and Typhoon would enter service before the end of 2018. They are supposed to be transferred to the Baltic Fleet. It was previously indicated that next year the navy could receive up to four Karakurts, being built at different enterprises. In the future, construction will continue for a long time, until the existing plans are fully implemented.
Let us recall that the project of a small rocket ship 22800 with the code “Karakurt” was created by specialists of the Central Marine Design Bureau “Almaz” (St. Petersburg). Military scientific support for the design work was carried out by the Military Educational and Scientific Center of the Russian Navy. The first open demonstration of materials on Project 22800 took place two years ago as part of the international military-technical forum Army 2015. During the same period, the first contracts were signed for the construction of some of the ships required by the fleet.
Construction of the lead MRK Uragan, already launched, and the first production ship Typhoon, which is yet to be sent to the outfitting wall, started at the very end of the year before last. On December 24, 2015, a solemn ceremony of laying down two new missile ships took place at the Pella Leningrad shipyard. To date, the first serious results have been obtained. On July 29, 2017, following the results of several stages of construction, the lead ship was launched and is now being completed afloat. According to the Ministry of Defense, over the next few weeks the same will happen to the first production Karakurt.
The third ship of the project (the second production ship) was named “Storm” and was laid down in May last year. Production facilities in the city of Feodosia, recently transferred to the Pella plant, were chosen as the site for its construction. At the moment, Feodosia shipbuilders are busy assembling and installing the main structures of the future “Storm”.
On July 29 and December 24 last year, the Shkval and Burya MRKs were laid down at the Pella site in Otradnoye. These ships are also still in the early stages of construction. In mid-March of this year, an enterprise in Crimea began building the Okhotsk ship. There is also a contract for the seventh Cyclone ship, but its execution has not yet begun. In total, in the foreseeable future, the Pella enterprise, having two factories at its disposal, will have to transfer to the fleet seven ships of Project 22800, of which six are at different stages of construction.
According to the plans of the military department, the Russian fleet needs at least 15-20 small missile ships of the Karakurt type. The implementation of such plans by the forces of one shipbuilding plant is associated with certain restrictions, which is why other enterprises in addition to Pella were involved in the program. So, in August last year, the Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the Zelenodolsk plant named after. A.M. Gorky. This agreement provides for the construction of five ships with delivery of the entire series until 2020 inclusive.
According to the report of the Zelenodolsk plant last year, in the fall or early winter of 2016, the laying of the first two small missile ships of Project 22800 took place in the workshops of the enterprise. According to available data, these ships were named “Monsoon” and “Passat”. The ships "Breeze", "Tornado" and "Smerch" currently exist only in plans. Their laying will take place over the next few years.
Next, it is planned to build six more ships needed by the Pacific Fleet. The Amur Shipyard (Komsomolsk-on-Amur) should receive such an order. It is curious that the Ministry of Defense has already selected a contractor, but has not yet entered into a contract with him. This summer it was announced that a new official order for serial Karakurts would appear only in 2018. This allows us to roughly imagine the timing of the start of construction and delivery of the last of the ordered ships. Apparently, construction in Komsomolsk-on-Amur will be completed in the first years of the next decade.
Thus, over the next few years - no later than the mid-twenties - the Russian shipbuilding industry will build and transfer to the navy 18 small missile ships of Project 22800 Karakurt. The total duration of the construction program, which started in 2015, will reach 8-10 years. Such a combination of time spent and the number of similar ships can be a real source of pride for shipbuilders.
A direct consequence of the expected relatively rapid implementation of plans is the achievement of noticeable results within the first two years of construction. Thus, to date, the Leningrad plant “Pella” has managed to launch the lead small-ship missile ship “Karakurt”. After completion of completion afloat, expected in the foreseeable future, the ship will go out for testing. The Uragan is planned to be handed over to the customer no later than the end of 2018. Also scheduled for next year is the delivery of the first production ship, which is still on the slipway, but is already being prepared for launching.
Project 22800 Karakurt proposes the construction of small-displacement ships with strike weapons, somewhat similar to older missile boats. At the same time, the project is based on modern solutions, as well as weapons that meet all existing requirements. The promising Karakurts should be distinguished from other modern Russian-developed small missile ships by higher seaworthiness characteristics, allowing them to operate on the open sea.
Project 22800 ships must have a displacement of 800 tons with a length of 67 m and a width of 11 m. The hull lines meet the requirements for seaworthiness. It is proposed to equip the ships with a diesel-electric power plant. Three M-507D-1 diesel engines and the same number of DGAS-315 diesel generators should provide movement at speeds of up to 30 knots. The cruising range at economic speed reaches 2,500 miles. Inventory autonomy – 15 days.
The project involves the use of a variety of weapons designed to strike remote targets and protect against attack from the sea or from the air. There is a complex of artillery weapons consisting of an AK-176M automatic installation with a 76-mm gun and two AK-630 anti-aircraft guns with a 30 mm caliber. Previously, it was stated that some ships, instead of AK-630 systems, would receive a naval version of the Pantsir missile and gun system. Also on board the ship there are two installations for KORD heavy machine guns. To enhance air defense, the crew can use man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
The high strike potential of the Karakurt should be provided by the Caliber missile system. A universal vertical launcher 3S-14 with eight cells is mounted in the ship's superstructure. It can be used to launch P-800 Onyx missiles or products of the Caliber family. The composition of the missile ammunition, the purpose of the missiles and their proportions in the ammunition are determined in accordance with the assigned combat missions. Depending on the type of missiles loaded, the Project 22800 MRK is capable of attacking surface and coastal targets at ranges of at least several hundred kilometers.
According to available data, the main means of detecting air and surface objects on the Karakurt ship is the Mineral-M radar station. Also announced are modern combat information and control systems, navigation aids, electronic warfare systems, communication systems, etc.
It was previously stated that Project 22800 small missile ships are being considered as an addition to the Project 21631 Buyan-M small missile ships under construction, which are characterized by less high seaworthiness. At the moment, the construction of 12 Buyan-M and 18 Karakurt ships is planned. Based on the results of the implementation of all existing plans and the fulfillment of signed contracts, the Russian Navy will receive three dozen new ships of relatively small displacement, carrying fairly powerful artillery and missile weapons.
To date, the Navy has received five small missile ships of Project 21631, the construction of which started at the beginning of the current decade. The newer MRKs of Project 22800 have not yet entered service in the fleet, but the moment they begin service is approaching. Several ceremonies for handing over new ships to the customer are planned for next year. If there are no serious problems, by the beginning of 2019 the Russian Navy will have three or four Karakurts. The lead ship is already being completed at the wall, and the first production ship will reportedly be launched soon.
Thus, both events that have already taken place and those that are expected continue the ambitious program of fleet modernization through the construction of new ships of different classes.
Based on materials from sites:
http://function.mil.ru/
http://pellaship.ru/
https://ria.ru/
https://kommersant.ru/
http://tass.ru/
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/
The firepower of a cruiser, the stealth of a submarine, the speed of a destroyer and the dimensions of a corvette - this is how Western media characterize the Russian corvettes of the Karakurt series.
Guard! The Russians are creating attack ships that will soon completely displace the NATO fleet from the Baltic and Black Seas, and in the future they can challenge the power of the United States and NATO in all seas.
It is clear that it is now fashionable in the Western media to throw hysterics for any reason. The “Russian threat” is especially popular. However, in the case of the Karakurt series corvettes, NATO has reason to worry. We are not talking about the Russian threat - rather, it is a competent asymmetric response to NATO’s actions and plans off the Russian coast.
Small missile ships of project 22800 (code "Karakurt")
Corvettes "Karakurt" are small multi-purpose missile and artillery ships (or small corvettes) for conducting combat operations in the near sea zone and on large rivers (conventionally - the "river-sea" class).
“Karakurt” is a creative continuation of the series of well-proven small missile ships of Project 21631 “Buyan-M”.
The Russian fleet has already received two such ships, and by 2020, the Russian fleets will receive eighteen more of these small corvettes - each of the fleets will receive its own squadron of “Black Widows” (this is how these ships are classified in NATO).
What has NATO experts so excited? The whole world saw how the small missile ships of the Buyan-M series “work” - designed to protect the near sea zone, the Buyans suddenly launched an attack from the Caspian Sea on terrorists in Syria. This invigorated not only the Syrian terrorists, but also their curators. NATO was forced to admit that the Russian Buyans pose a real threat not only to bandits in Syria, but also to the well-protected large ships of the Western coalition.
It must be said that the combat operation of the Buyan series ships also revealed some, one might say, shortcomings:
- the ships have a weak short-range air defense system, which assumes safe operation exclusively in the area of operation of the coastal “anti-aircraft umbrella” system;
- in the open ocean, “Buyans” feel “out of their element”, since they are designed for sailing along the calmer Caspian Sea and large rivers;
- small navigation autonomy (up to 10 days), which is clearly not enough for long trips.
For this reason, the Karakurts appeared as the next stage in the development of a series of small attack ships. With a smaller displacement (up to 800 tons), these corvettes can sail for 15 days. And they can sail not only on relatively calm inland seas, since they have decent seaworthiness.
Small dimensions (65 meters long and 10 meters wide) and the use of stealth technology make the Karakurts extremely difficult targets even for modern high-precision anti-ship missiles of NATO ships.
Ships of this series are protected from air attacks by Pantsir-M complexes (this is a naval version of the complex with more powerful artillery weapons), which can hit both aircraft and anti-ship missiles at a range of up to 20 km.
The "strike capabilities" of the Karakurts are impressive - these are eight universal ZS14 launchers, which allow them to strike with both the P-800 Oniks anti-ship missiles and the universal Caliber-NK missiles. With such equipment, Karakurt is dangerous both to the largest ships (including aircraft carriers) and to ground targets at a range of up to 2,500 km.
Any missile ship that fires a missile instantly becomes “visible” to enemy tracking and surveillance equipment, and the most effective defense against a retaliatory strike is to leave the attack area. “Karakurts” can reach speeds of up to 30 knots (55.56 km/h), which allows them to quickly leave the missile launch area.
For “close” combat, the ship’s arsenal includes a 76.2 mm artillery system (it is planned to install 100 mm caliber guns).
In accordance with open (unclassified) information, the Karakurts are equipped with combat information and control systems (CIUS) Sigma-E and automated multifunctional information exchange complexes (AMKOI) Trassa-E.
There will be several stations (including Mineral-M) to monitor the world surrounding the ship, find surface and air targets.
The performance characteristics of the ships of this series also predetermine the methods of conducting combat operations by the Karakurts. In the West, this tactic is called “Hit and Run.” Ships (single ship or group of ships) can covertly approach a target (small size and stealth technology), launch missiles at the target and quickly escape from the point of attack.
And the small Karakurt corvettes can hit very painfully - the three Karakurts are not inferior in their striking capabilities to a number of large American ships. Thus, the American Ticonderoga-class cruiser with a displacement of 9,800 tons carries on board 26 Tomahawks, which can hit targets at a range of up to 2,500 km (depending on the modification of the missile).
Three Karakurts can fire a high-precision salvo of 24 Caliber-NK missiles (warhead weight 400 kg) at a quite comparable range.
One American cruiser costs a billion dollars. For that kind of money, you can build about 30 MRKs of Project 22800 Karakurt. And such a “company” can smash into pieces not only one American cruiser, but also a large aircraft carrier group.
It’s not for nothing that NATO dubbed the new Russian ships the “Black Widow.” American experts take the current trend of the Russian Navy towards miniaturization of the fleet quite seriously (great effect with small means). In 2015, The National Interest magazine wrote:
A corvette with eight Kalibr-NK missiles on board carries a more massive attack than the now retired Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate of the US Navy, and certainly has more firepower than any of the American littoral combat ships.
And now Forbes:
The capabilities of the Russian fleet can seriously limit the freedom of action of the United States and NATO and require a significant increase in spending from the American defense industry. Even small Russian patrol ships can pack a punch more than other navies by using new Kalibr cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions.
What can I add to the words of American experts?
Seven feet under the keel for you, Karakurt series corvettes! So that foreign warships cannot even think of approaching our shores.
For obvious reasons, there is no photo of this ship in the public domain. But I found photographs of a model that was presented at one of the exhibitions of our military-industrial complex, which, in general, give an idea of the corvettes of the Karakurt series.
Photo of the corvette of the Karakurt series
The modern concept of development of the Russian Navy involves the construction of ships of various classes, but in some details Russia is a trendsetter in current shipbuilding. It was the Russian Navy that, at the beginning of the new millennium, began to receive the latest ships of curious design. Small in displacement and size, the ships had enormous firepower. The first trial was the construction of Project 21631 ships of the Buyan type, which in the West were classified as corvettes. A continuation of the successful project were the ships of Project 22800, in the design of which it was possible to implement all the latest developments.
Russian sea-launched cruise missiles "Caliber" have given a real impetus to the revival of a forgotten class of ships - small missile ships. Small, well-armed ships capable of operating simultaneously on rivers and at sea represent an effective tool for deterring military threats. The current Russian Karakurt-class corvettes, small and powerful ships, are in many ways similar to their predecessors - gunboats. Although not large in size and armed with powerful artillery, these ships were effective combat weapons in many navies.
Small rocket ships - Russian know-how
Today, the concept of building small missile ships for the domestic fleet is being implemented on the basis of real results and facts obtained. The idea is that a river-sea class ship with a small displacement can carry weapons of enormous power. Thanks to the advent of the Kalibr-NK cruise missile, this became possible. In addition, domestic shipbuilders had experience in building small ships of the corvette class. At first there were small artillery ships of Project 21630 of the Buyan type, built for the needs of the Caspian military flotilla. Further, the project was developed along the path of enhancing the combat capabilities of the ships. The improved project 21631 of the Buyan-M type already envisaged the construction of warships not with conventional artillery, but armed with a strike missile system.
The subsequent successful combat use of small missile ships as a strike force only confirmed the leadership of the fleet in the correctness of the chosen path for the development of small fleet forces. On October 7, 2015, small missile ships of the Caspian military flotilla “Uglich”, “Veliky Ustyug” and “Grad Sviyazhsk” launched Kalibr-NK cruise missiles against the targets of the Islamic State in Syria. The missiles, having flown 1.5 thousand km, hit the specified targets. This operation perfectly showed that small ships in the current conditions can represent an impressive fighting force. And this despite the fact that this type of ship was built for the advantage of operating in inland and coastal waters.
It became clear that with some changes made to the design of the RTOs, these small and formidable ships would be able to operate in remote maritime theaters. In this case, three weighty arguments were taken into account:
- ships of this class can be built at small shipyards;
- high rates of construction of combat ships;
- relatively low construction cost compared to the construction of larger ocean-going ships.
Moreover, due to small missile ships, Russia could significantly increase its naval power on the southern flank in a short period. The technical solution to this problem was the Project 22800 corvette. These small warships, with good seaworthiness and enormous firepower, can become a serious strike force for the Russian fleet at this time. The new project received a corresponding name - “Karakurt”. The small, stealthy ship can deliver a fatal blow to any enemy, both at sea and on land.
Karakurt is a poisonous spider that lives in arid regions. Despite its small size, the insect can inflict a fatal bite. The spider's venom affects the central nervous system, leading to paralysis of the heart muscle and respiratory system.
Birth of the project and construction of ships
Project 22800 can easily be called one of the most daring and successful domestic developments in the field of military shipbuilding. The main idea of the project is to create a short-sea ship of small displacement with advanced weapons, which include defensive and strike systems. Based on the previous project of the Buyan-class small missile ship, the designers proposed limiting the displacement of the new ships to 800 tons. The ships should become universal combat units, capable of solving a wide range of combat missions, both as part of a naval formation and independently.
As before, the development of the project was carried out by the St. Petersburg Central Design Bureau "Almaz". This company has extensive experience in creating warships of all classes and types. The designers tried to use existing engineering and technological developments from previous similar projects. Project 12300 missile boats and Project 21631 small missile ships of the Buyan-M type were taken as a model. It was planned, using the design of existing ships, to increase the seaworthiness of the new ship. It was planned to build ships of the new project in three modifications: a patrol version, an anti-submarine version and an attack version.
The general public first learned about the new development of the domestic defense industry in the summer of 2015, when the model of the new ship was first demonstrated. Five months later, in December of the same year, the first two units of the Uragan and Typhoon MRKs were laid down. The lead ship was named in memory of the first Russian-built patrol ship “Uragan”. The order for the construction of new combat ships for the domestic fleet was received by the St. Petersburg shipyard "Pella". The naval command plans to build 18 ships of this class, which will be built at several shipyards at once. For the Pella shipyard, plans for the coming years include the construction of 7 Project 22800 warships, which should use the production capacities of other shipbuilding enterprises. If the first ships were laid down in St. Petersburg at the production site in Otradnoye, then the next two serial ships are already being built at the production facilities of the More shipbuilding plant. The construction of the remaining ships in accordance with the State Order was distributed as follows:
- Shipyard “More”, Feodosia”;
- Shipyard "Zaliv" Kerch;
- Zelenodolsk shipyard Zelenodolsk Republic of Tatarstan;
- Amur Shipyard, Komsomolsk on Amur.
The distribution of government orders for the construction of small rocket ships was not done by chance. In each individual case, we can say that the construction of ships is carried out as part of the program for replenishing the Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific fleets. Following the first two ships that should be replenished with the Baltic Fleet, the shipyards in Otradnoye laid down the next two MRKs “Shkval” and MRK “Burya”, the place of service of which has not yet been determined. The first ships that can be added to the Black Sea Fleet should be the ships in the attack version “Storm” and “Okhotsk”, laid down in Feodosia in 2016-17.
The production capacity of the Zelenodolsk shipyard is already loaded with the construction of two karakurts, the Musson and Passat small-ship missiles. Three other ships are also ready to begin construction, contracts for the construction of which have already been signed. The technological capabilities of the Amur Shipyard are being studied to begin the construction of new generation ships, which, according to the plans of the military naval command, in the amount of 6 units will be transferred to the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Federation.
The construction of new rocket ships is being carried out at an active pace. In July-December 2017, it is planned to hand over to the acceptance committee the first two ships of Project 22800 “Uragan” and its analogue, the “Typhoon” rocket ship. In this case, the continuity of generations of warships can be traced. Almost 88 years ago, at the Nikolaev shipyard in Leningrad, the construction of Hurricane-class patrol ships began, which at that time became the main core of the young Soviet fleet. Today, the new Project 22800 missile ships continue the glorious tradition of their predecessors.
Features of Project 22800 ships
All vessels of the project, which are currently being built within the framework of the State order, must be transferred to the fleets by 2020. The ships that will be built in the Far East should be ready by 2022.
According to military experts, the Karakurt-class MRKs are river-sea class vessels that have been improved in accordance with the new operational-tactical situation that has developed on the flanks. In general, the new ships are universal combat units and should become an important component for strengthening the defense capability of the Russian Federation at sea.
The construction of seaworthy small platforms with a range of strike weapons can neutralize the threat created by the Russian naval forces in the European part and the Far East. The missile component, which is the main strength of this project, allows it to cover any targets within a radius of 1500-2000 km. The coverage area of sea-based Kalibr missile systems includes almost all land and sea targets in Western Europe and on the Pacific coast. From the Caspian Sea region, small missile ships are capable of covering targets in the Persian Gulf region. In other words, having a large group of ships of this class, the Russian Navy becomes capable of responding to any external threats.
The main innovation that distinguishes this project is the improved seaworthiness of the vessels. The ships, despite belonging to the “river-sea” class of vessels, gravitate more towards corvettes - ships capable of freely operating in the waters of coastal seas. With relatively modest dimensions: the length of the vessel is 67 meters and the width is 11 meters, the ships can withstand waves of up to 6-7 force. This was facilitated by an increase in the draft of the ships to 4 meters. The range of Project 22800 small missile ships remained the same as that of Project 21631 corvettes and amounted to 2,500 miles. But the navigation autonomy has increased, which has grown to 15 days.
The ship's hull also looks interesting. The geometry of the deck superstructures and the contours of the hull are designed taking into account low visibility. Special alloys are used as the main structural material, which can reduce the radar signature of the ship on radar screens. The presence of new and advanced radar and navigation equipment on Karakurt-class corvettes makes these ships sighted and secretive.
As for weapon systems, the new ships of the fleet have a combined weapons system. The main emphasis is on the Oniks anti-ship missile system and the Kalibr-NK cruise missiles that the ships are equipped with. The vertical launch units are located in the main control housing, immediately behind the conning tower. This arrangement of missile launchers makes it possible to profitably use the remaining deck space of the ship. In combination with strike weapons, new ships under construction will be equipped with the Pantsir-M anti-aircraft complex. Its tasks include creating a powerful and effective air defense of the ship against air attack of any kind. On the first two ships of the Uragan and Typhoon MRKs, air defense functions are performed by Ak-630M artillery mounts and Igla portable MANPADS.
Finally
The construction of new small missile ships of the Karakurt type brings the Russian Navy into the ranks of the most combat-ready fleets in the world. Despite the small tonnage of the new combat units, the firepower of the fleet will increase significantly. This applies primarily to regions where there is constant foreign political tension. The Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean today are key areas of fleet operation for Russia. The Syrian crisis and the situation in Ukraine force the Russian command to constantly work to strengthen its naval group on the southern flank.
We should not forget about the Far East, where North Korea’s nuclear missile ambitions threaten the entire region. The growing power of the Chinese Navy is also causing rising tensions in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.
Thanks to Project 22800, the Russian fleet can significantly increase its firepower within 4-5 years, creating a real counterbalance to the navies of other countries in the main operational and tactical directions.
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