The ship under the loud name “Thundering” is a corvette of project 20385, which was preparing for bookmark in February 2012. In parallel, the development of the “Agile” analogue was carried out. The process began at a shipyard located in St. Petersburg. The ceremony was attended by high officials of the Russian armed forces. This project is directly focused on the construction of military navigational aids, in the arsenal of which the most modern weapons of the attacking and defensive plan are provided.
Development and construction
Corvette project 20385 is an improved version of a similar development under the index 20380, with the introduction of fundamentally new technological and structural solutions. The North Shipyard in St. Petersburg has signed a contract to create four vessels of this category, two of which are ready. In parallel, work is ongoing at a shipyard in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. New ships should become as reliable as possible in terms of impact, including the use of the latest air defense equipment.
The corvette of project 20385 (“Thundering”) was developed by the Almaz design bureau. The predicted port of registration of ships after completion is the Northern Fleet. The project under consideration is much more perfect than its predecessor. This is especially true of the tactical and technical parameters, weapons, combat capabilities and maneuvering. In theory, manufacturers plan to build ten similar corvettes for the Russian Navy. This will provide an opportunity to significantly increase defense in terms of protecting the maritime border. It is worth noting that composite materials are used in the manufacture of ships, and the cost of their manufacture and delivery amounted to at least half a million rubles.
Features and Uses
20385 is a new generation corvette project designed for multi-purpose use. Its main task is the detection and destruction of enemy surface ships or submarines. Also, a combat ship serves for landing, guarding the coastal zone, escorting other ships.
In addition to artillery and missile weapons, there are radar and sonar systems on board. The installation of a hangar for the Ka-27 helicopter expands the capabilities of a warship. This significantly increases the combat efficiency of the vessel, allowing timely detection of enemy targets. Additional protection against the detection of the corvette of project 20385 is the use of special technologies in the design that minimize their radar detection. Reliability and maneuverability under any conditions are guaranteed by composite components from the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Prometey, which have proved their worth in previous similar developments.
Technical indicators
The following are the characteristics of the corvette project 20385:
- Length / width of the ship - 104/13 m.
- Displacement is 2200 tons.
- The speed threshold is 27 knots.
- The vessel autonomy is 15 days.
- The distance covered is 5600 km.
- Power units - 1DDA-12000 diesel engines.
- The number of crew members is 99 people.
Artillery weapons on board represented by the installation of A-190-01 (caliber 100 mm). There is a universal caliber missile system, machine guns, anti-aircraft guns of the Redut type, acoustic and radar bases, anti-submarine weapons Package and reinforcement in the form of a Ka-27 helicopter.
Hull and superstructure
The “Thundering” corvette is the leading one in the newest project 20385. Its hull is mainly made of steel and has a smooth deck. Structurally innovative solutions made it possible to improve the resistance to oncoming water by 25 percent and reduce the load on the main electrical installation.
The new design of the underwater hull allows you to use the power plant with a lower weight, and this frees up the displacement parameter by about 20 percent. In this regard, the combat equipment of the ship can be significantly enhanced. An additional primary factor is an increase in speed by two knots.
The superstructure of a swimming combat weapon is made of non-combustible composite constituent components. They include fiberglass, polymers based on carbon fiber. This system makes it possible to achieve a small detection radius by location stations and systems. The stern is equipped with a special hangar and a platform for accommodating and taking off the Ka-27 helicopter. Its fuel supply is about 20 tons. Corvette project 20380 and 20385 are very different equipment and weapons in favor of the latter option.
Power plant
Previously, the main power unit was to become German MTU engines. Subsequently, observing countermeasures for import substitution, it was decided to use domestic engines. The order was sent to specialists of Zvezda OJSC and Kolomensky Combine. As a result, the project 20385 corvette was equipped with a pair of DDA-1200 diesel engines.
Each unit includes two motors and a reverse gear. They have an automatic control system and microprocessors. The characteristics of the power plants are listed below:
- Working life - at least 15 thousand hours.
- The average speed range with a speed of 14 knots is 4,000 nautical miles.
- The material of the piston base is heat-resistant steel of the type EI-415.
- The basis of the power units is AK-6 aluminum alloy.
- The power rating of each generator is 630 kW.
- The current requirement is 50 Hz (380 watts).
These settings allow you to provide a high percentage of power with a minimum of fuel and oil consumption, while reducing the sonar signature of the ship.
Radio Engineering
Corvette project 20385 “Thundering” has the following radio equipment:
- The Sigma system (BIUS).
- Automatic communication unit "Ruberoid".
- The aiming complex "Monument".
- Station of general detection "Furke-2".
- Node OGAS "Anapa-M".
These devices can reduce the likelihood of detecting a ship by three times; they operate in a mode from 64 to 2000 MHz. They are able to identify more than two hundred alleged targets, and also resist enemy missile systems, providing protection for the ship. Four launchers for neutralizing interference of the “Bold” type contribute to this. Coordination actions for controlling the helicopter are carried out using a special navigation tower OSP-20380.
Armament
The ships in question are equipped with several types of weapons. Among them:
- A pair of anti-ship combat installations with four launch systems and 8 missiles. Launch containers are located in the middle of the hull (longitudinally in diameter). The maximum range for hitting a target is 260 km.
- Antiaircraft armament, which consists of the Redoubt system with three modular installations, the Igla mobile complex, thirty-millimeter cannons with six barrels (mounted aft).
- The Rubezh complex.
- A pair of guns with a caliber of 330 mm against torpedoes (Package-N system).
- 100 mm artillery mount A-190. Its rate of fire is about 80 starts per minute. The Puma control system allows controlling the aiming and the shooting itself.
- Anti-submarine helicopter Ka-27.
The corvette of project 20385, the photo of which is given below, can launch shells aimed at destroying not only enemy submarine and surface ships, but also oncoming torpedoes.
Seaworthiness parameters
The ship in question has increased seaworthiness, compared with analogues and predecessors. In this case, the load on the vibrations during the transverse rolling does not matter. This opportunity gives the right to freely use the entire ammunition load, even with sea waves up to 5 points.
Designers paid special attention to the survivability of the ship. The developers used the latest technology and composite materials. This made it possible to significantly reduce the radar visibility of the ship. The “Thundering” corvette of the project of Russian corvettes 20385 is the first of its kind in the equipment of which polymeric materials with high absorption of radio pulses and non-standard architectural design were used.
As a result, the detection factor and circular dispersion decreased almost three times (compared with analogues). Additional protection is provided by complexes aimed at blocking the attacking means of the enemy.
What modifications have been developed?
According to the initial plan, it was planned to develop and build four main ships, such as the project 20385 corvette. The “Thundering” one, the photo of which is presented above, became the flagship and the only ship whose construction continued in this direction. In addition, the following modifications were designed:
- Border Guard Corvette (20380P).
- Equipped with minimal armament export variation. It was supposed to change the ammunition to foreign counterparts.
- "Prompt". He purposefully prepared for the Black Sea Fleet, had improved equipment and weapons.
- An upgraded version with the ability to mount a combat installation "Horizon".
The names of the ships are no less sonorous: "Zealous" and "Strict."
Corvette project 20385 "Agile"
This ship is assigned a serial number 1006. It is the second hull of the project in question. The laying of the series also took place at the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg.
The event was attended by Admiral Vysotsky, fleet commanders of all levels, as well as other dignitaries, honored guests. The development of this project began in the spring of 2013. “Agile” differs from previous models by its large displacement (2200 tons) and dimensions. The length of the ship is 105 meters, and the width and draft are 13 and 8 meters, respectively. The armament equipment also differs by an order of magnitude from its predecessors, thanks to the ability to install Caliber-NK systems, Redut and Package systems. Based on the deck of the Ka-27PL helicopter.
Features
A very important difference of the ship in question is the presence of an optocoupler mast, which serves to control radar devices and increases the ability to detect enemy targets, and also helps to strengthen the military caravan, guaranteeing escort and identification of ships and aircraft. A significant role in this is played by the radar and the control unit of the Puma type.
Judging by the comment by K. Golubev, lead engineer at the Almaz Central Design Bureau, the development of a new offshore shipbuilding plan is also being carried out under an improved program under the code 20386. The project is aimed at maximizing the supply of domestic weapons, although the details of the construction remain secret.
According to Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Yu. Borisov, by 2020 it is planned to produce at least 16 corvettes of the class in question. The main production facilities are concentrated at the shipyard in St. Petersburg and the Amur Shipyard.
Experts think that the main catch in the construction of such ships is the compatibility of the latest weapons in large numbers and the cost of the final version. Designers continue to work to bring this indicator to the optimum level.
Total
Corvette project 20385, the characteristics of which are given above, has the most modern weapons and multifunctional orientation. As part of this event, the construction of only one of the representatives (“Thundering”) continues. The remaining vessels are being developed under an updated design. This is due to the appreciation of the ship, not always justified by the presence of heavy weapons of various kinds. The developers, despite the delay with the change of foreign power plants to domestic counterparts, say that all planned work is carried out according to the planned schedule.