New Russian Stealth corvette runs second phase of sea trials

24.01.2013 New Project 20380 corvette Boiky being built by Severnaya Verf shipyard for Baltic Fleet (BF) casted off from the fitting-out berth and sailed to Kronshtadt, as the source from the shipbuilding yard reported.

Second phase of sea trials and governmental tests will take place in Baltiysk.

Considering difficult ice conditions, it is expected that icebreakers will convoy the corvette.

Boiky successfully completed main systems tests in its initial sea trials in Novembre 2012.

Severny Verf is due to build six of the 20380 and 20385 classes for the Russian Navy by 2018, and six larger 22350 class frigates by 2020. The 20380 class, designed by the Almaz naval design bureau, are optimised for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare and support for land operations. The class incorporates stealth technology, which has considerably reduced its radar and infra-red signatures. The 20380 class can be equipped with Kh-35 anti-ship missiles and 3M54 Klub cruise missiles, Kashtan anti-aircraft gun/missile systems, a main 100-mm gun, two 30-mm close-range air defense guns, and torpedo tubes, according to naval-technology.com. It also has a hangar and deck for operation of a Kamov Ka-27 anti-submarine warfare helicopter, and is fitted with a Vinyetka-EM towed-array sonar.