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Further Reading

Project 2038.0 multi-role frigate
Project 20381 Steregushchy Corvette

In April 2001, Russia Navy Commander-in-Chief, Adm Vladimir Kuroyedov, stated that the Navy was starting construction of the new Project 2038.0 corvette. This is apparently the first concrete indication of the fact of the existence of this previously un-attested project. These ships are designed for coastal patrol, escort and antisubmarine warfare operations. The first of class was laid down for the Russian Navy at the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St Petersburg in late 2001. Corvettes of this type will also be built for coastal guard units.

The design of this 2,000 ton stealthy corvette was developed by the Almaz Central Marine Design bureau. Almaz was chosen over six other competitors to develop the Project 2038.0 class. The Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau is a leading builder of patrol craft that served with the border guard forces and customs service.

In 1997 the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau mentioned work on a project for a new multi-role frigate, enabling any country to build a Navy capable of protecting its economic interests. According to the Almaz CMDB, a ship of this type must:

• have a cruising range of up to 10,000 miles;
• have an endurance of up to 60 days;
• have facilities to carry out electronic monitoring of warships, vessels and aircraft;
• have small boats to carry inspection teams;
• carry a helicopter;
• have facilities to monitor the environment;
• be armed to fire warning shots and conduct fire for effect against trespassers;
• chase intruder ships at a speed of 20 to 25 knots;
• have equipment to reel in and store illegal fishing equipment on board;

The displacement of this ship was projected to be 1,500 to 1,800 tons and it can carry a variety of armaments. The ship can be armed with gun mounts outfitted with 30 to 100mm guns and with gun fire control systems varying from the simplest optic to complex radar systems. Depending on the missions to be accomplished, the ship's weaponry may include attack missiles or ASW weapons systems, and it would be so designed as to allow quick installation of additional armament and machinery to extend capabilities in case of armed conflicts.

Project 20381 Steregushchy Corvette - Program

The construction of the multi-purpose patrol ship got underway on the stocks of the "Severnaya Verf" shipyard in St. Petersburg in December 2001. The Stereguschiy, on display in June 2007 at the International Maritime Defense Show (IMDS) in St. Petersburg, was launched in late 2006 after five years of construction. It was scheduled to be commissioned in November 2007 following sea trials. The second hull, Soobrazitelny, was laid down on 20 May 2003. Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Adm. Vladimir Kuroyedov said at the keel-laying ceremony said that at least 20 of the corvettes would be built. The building of the second corvette in the series, Soobrazitelny, was delayed due to lack of funds. By 2005 the ship's hull has been completed.

As of mid-2005 JSC Shipbuilding plant "Severnaya Verf" shipyard (St. Petersburg) expects to launch lead corvette Steregushchi in early 2006. Earlier reports had claimed that the first ship of the series had "joined the Russian Navy" in 2005, but in fact it was not launched until late 2006.

Russian Navy orders for the Project 2038.0 2000-ton Steregushchy class corvette signaled a recovery for domestic naval business. On 24 July 2004 RIA Novosti reported that Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Kuroyedov said that smaller surface vessels and boats will have to be discarded first, as their service life is shorter than that of larger vessels. "The first-born of our surface shipbuilding is the corvette - a new multifunctional littoral combat ship, which combines qualities of anti-submarine ships and missile carriers," the Russian Navy chief said, citing the Steregushchy and the Soobrazitelny by way of example.

According to the Armaments Program to 2010, five such vessels were intended to join the Russian Navy by 2010 at one year intervals. The Russian National Defense Procurement for 2007 anticipated the addition of 5 Steregushchy-class corvettes to the Navy. The Steregushiy was expected to complete its trials and tests before being transferred to the navy. An additional 4 vessels, the Boykiy, the Soobraznitel'niy, the Sovershenniy, and the Stoykiy, were also purchased. All in all a total of ten to twenty are planned. The Russian Navy was optimistic that it can build 10 Project 2038.0 corvettes due to the dramatic increase in funds for construction and procurement in 2006-2007.

Laying down a keel of the third ship in the series, Boyki, took place at Severnaya Verf on 27 July 2005. On 13 November 2006 St. Petersburg's Severnaya Verf shipyard laid the keel of the Stoiky corvette for Russia's Navy. The Stoiky was the fourth corvette of the Project 20380 series, after the Steregushchy, the Soobrazitelny and the Boiky, designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau and built at the Severnaya Verf shipyard. Deputy Navy Commander Mikhail Zakharenko, who took part in the keel-laying ceremony, said that the first ship built in the series, the Steregushchy corvette, shipped out the same day for testing.

By 2007 there were possiblly as many as five of them under construction, 3 at Severnaya Verf and 2 at Zelenodolsk. One more -- Soobrazitelny -- had been launched and was undergoing trials.

According to one source Stereguschy was already allocated to the Caspian flotilla, and one more is expected to join it; others will go to other fleets.