Project 23560E Shkval destroyer - Design
Leader / Lider Class /
New Construction Destroyer / Future Destroyer

It was reported in early 2010 Russia has embarked on developing a new-generation destroyer featuring a displacement of about 10,000 tons and powered by a gas turbine. Efforts were then focused on the design of the new destroyer. The future destroyer would be a multirole ship. It would be armed with advanced missile systems with versatile vertical launchers. The destroyer would be able to engage ground, surface and submersible targets. It would also be fitted with an air/missile defense system with short-, medium- and long-range missiles. The ship would be equipped with versatile gun mounts designed to fire precision-guided munitions (PGM) at ground- and sea-based targets. The destroyer would be based on stealth technologies, which would considerably increase its concealment. It would be fitted with a helipad for two ASW helicopters. The new-generation destroyer is expected to boast an unlimited navigability, a full speed of 30 knots, and an operational range of 10,000 nautical miles.

Russia has begun developing a new-generation destroyer for its Navy, which would be built using stealth technology, a source from the defense industry told Interfax-AVN on 11 March 2010. The future warship would be multifunctional, which would determine the choice of weapons for it, he said. “The destroyer will have a missile weapon system using universal vertical launchers to fire high-precision missiles at ground, surface, and underwater targets. The ship’s air defense will be provided by short, middle, and long-range anti-aircraft missiles,” the expert said.

The destroyer’s artillery systems would also be universal and would be capable of firing high-precision guided projectiles at coastal and marine targets, he said. The vessel’s multifunctionality would also affect its electronic equipment, the expert said. “The destroyer will be equipped with a universal target detection and designation system, electronic warfare systems, and hydro-acoustic equipment to detect submarines, mines, and underwater sabotage groups,” he said. One of the features of the new destroyer will be a high level of environmental security, which so far is not a characteristic of Russian warships.

As of mid-2014, there were conflicting data from all points of the compass. The absence of any particular image of the draft of the new Russian destroyers from officials gave rise to a flurry of different improvisations on the subject. Various claims were made concerning the ship's design, including the nuclear power plant, the development of a "stealth" configuration, universal firing system, supersonic anti-ship missiles, twin 152 mm "Coalition-F" artillery. The displacement of the Project 21956 Russian destroyer ranged from from 9,000 tons to 14,000 tons, the ship taking on the traits of a traditional "Arleigh Burke", or the new "silver bullet" guided missile destroyer like the DDG-1000 "Zumwalt".

The Russian Navy approved the next generation destroyer presented by the consulting firm Severnoe St. Petersburg, an office during the Soviet era was designed especially among the largest warships of the USSR: missile cruisers Project 1164 Atlant (cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea fleet), large ASW ship Project 1155 nuclear cruisers Kirov Project 1164 (the Peter Great, flagship of the Northern Fleet) and Project 956 destroyers which included some success Export with 4 units sold in China in 2000. With this experience, by one account Severnoe therefore presented to the Russian Navy destroyer project a displacement of 12,000 tonnes, higher than the Project 21956 destroyer designed primarily for export (8,000 t full load). The last ship of comparable tonnage built in Russia was the nuclear missile cruiser Yuri Andopov, the future Peter the Great, put on hold in 1986 to plant the Baltic (ASA in 1998 in the Northern Fleet).

The Atlant Cruisers are extremely oversized and not comparable to the US Navy Ticonderoga Cruisers which are Multi-role (plus the US has over 20 of theirs and Russia only 3 Atlant and 2 Orlan). The Atlant Cruisers were purpose built (as everything was purpose built in the Soviet Navy, which required a lot of ships just to accomplish one task) for Fleet Air Defense (with S-300F "Fort") and Long Range Anti-shipping ships. They require a lot of resources, like a crew number large enough to support 3-4 Frigates if divided.

The armament of the future would be a destroyer (as often since the cruisers of Project 1164 and 1144) and the height of the missions it would fall. It would be indeed a destroyer, versatile to implement missions ASW, anti-air to ensure a missile defense theater, even extended to a more substantial space and able to support land operations conducted by a task force. As a result, the next generation destroyer would carry torpedoes and would have a hydroacoustic station for ASW. It would also be equipped with anti-surface missile and would carry cruise missiles (probably like Club). It finally have anti-missile systems S-500 with Prometheus.

It was reported in December 2014 that Russia’s Defense Ministry had approved the technical design specifications for its Leader class destroyers. The next-generation warships would be most likely be equipped with a Caliber high-precision cruise missile system and a S-500 Prometey antiaircraft defense system, which is more capable than US Aegis Ballistic Missile defense systems.

Each destroyer would have a Redut-Poliment anti-ship weapons system as well as Pantsir-M and Palash antiaircraft artillery. The destroyer’s nuclear-powered and gas turbine propulsion power plant would be manufactured in Russia and would allow the ships to travel at 30 knots. The warships would be capable of combatting submarines and would also be equipped with two special helicopters and a modern sonar system.

Janes reported 14 May 2015 that the Project 23560E Shkval (Squall), destroyer had a full-load displacement of 15,000-18,000 tons, a length of 200 meters, beam of 23 meters, draft of 6.6 meters, maximum speed of 32 knots, cruise speed of 20 knots, endurance of 90 days, and a crew of 250-300. The destroyer is intended to be powered by a gas turbine engine (although Russia lacked any adequate sources for naval gas turbines). The destroyer's armament comprises 60-70 anti-ship or anti-land cruise missiles, 128 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and 16-24 anti-submarine missiles. The ship is also equipped with a 130 mm multipurpose naval gun. It was proposed to be fitted with a battle management system integrated with tactical and operational-tactical ACSs.

According to 2015 reports, this ship’s displacement may be 15,000 tonnes, the vessel will be armed with the Kalibr and Onyx cruise missiles or their modifications, as well as with the S-500 marine anti-aircraft missile system.

According to one Russian report in early June 2016, the new destroyer will have a displacement of about 18,000 tons, a length of 200 meters and a breadth of 20 meters. Equipped with 70 anti-ship cruise missiles, 128 anti-aircraft guided missiles and 16 anti-ship guided missiles, including Kalibr and Onix, the nuclear powered destroyer will reportedly reach a speed of 30 knots and remain at sea up to 90 days without support. It will also carry a pair of Ka-27 or Ka-32 helicopters. The Russian Navy expected to receive twelve Lider-class destroyers by 2025.

Displacement of the advanced destroyer being designed for the Russian Navy has increased up to 19,000 tons; the ship is to be equipped with nuclear powerplant, two informed industry-related insiders told Mil.Press Today in February 2019. The Krylov State Research Center initially offered two versions of the ship: one displacing 10-12 kt with gas turbine powerplant, and another one displacing 18-19 kt with nuclear reactor, said Valery Polovinkin, the center’s head researcher. As for the scientist, opting for the latter variant is more logical judging from the "blue water navy" revival concept.