Combat ship of the next generation: the forum "Army-2017" presented the newest corvette
The main attention in the development of the concept was drawn to the optimization of seaworthiness of the corvette, including due to various means of calming down the pitching.
Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense / Vladimir Karnozov / TRK Zvezda
The third international military-technical forum "Army 2017" served as a venue for the premiere of the next generation of warship - "corvette with a displacement of 2000 tons." His large-scale model is exhibited at the stand of the Krylov State Scientific Center in the exhibition pavilion "A" of the park "Patriot".
The main attention in the development of the concept was drawn to the optimization of seaworthiness of the corvette, including due to various means of calming down the pitching. The result of Krylov center experts is the fact that the very modest displacement, "patrol" has an unusually powerful for this type of ship weapons represented 24 universal vertical launchers (UVLM) for class "surface-to-surface" missiles and 16 VPU antiaircraft Rockets of high and 32 - short range.
The artillery is represented by the A-190 caliber 100mm tower, a pair of AK630 quick-firing machines with a rotating block of six 30mm barrels, and one Duet with two similar blocks. To combat enemy submarines, the torpedo tubes of the "Packet-NK" type with a caliber of 324 mm are used. Detection of submarines is carried out with the aid of a hydroacoustic complex with antennas in the bow bulb, under the keel and extended towed behind the stern of the ship, and also with the help of the Ka-27 helicopter, for storage of which in the superstructure there is a place for the hangar.
It should be noted that some mass media rushed to announce the demonstration of the new corvette, announcing that its large-scale model will appear at the end of June at the International Naval Salon. With their "light hand", the preliminary title of the relevant topic got into circulation, allegedly under the code name "Breeze". In fact, with the presentation to the general public of its new development, the "Krylovites" had to wait a few weeks, separating the IMDS-2017 and the "Army-2017".
The representative of the Krylov Center, Yuri Chervakov, explained the Zvezda TC, the 2000 ton corvette is the latest development of the team of scientists. He continues the line of shock surface ships of the next generation, the most characteristic of which is the concept of the destroyer "Leader" (the export version has its own designation "Shkval"). Despite a decent difference in displacement (seven times), the "watchdog" and the destroyer are executed in a single key, implementing an innovative approach to the design of future warships. Visually, they are distinguished by the characteristic "tower" form of the superstructure, other measures for reducing the radar visibility, as well as the special outlines of the underwater part of the hull, which significantly (almost twice) reduce the water resistance of water.
Reduction of the resistance to movement makes it possible to increase the speed while maintaining the main parameters of the main power plant (which is actual for the destroyer) or to reduce the required power at a given speed (actual for the patrol ship). In the latter case, it becomes possible to reduce the mass of engines, and, accordingly, to increase ammunition, provisions, etc. In the opinion of the specialists of the Center, the "corvette with a displacement of 2,000 tons" was another step forward in the direction of further improving the technical appearance of the combat ships of this class.
From concept to detailed elaboration
Arguing about the future fate of the Breeze, it is important to remember that the Krylov Center is a scientific organization that conducts exploratory research. The result of his work are conceptual projects of perspective surface ships of various classes, which are then submitted to the leadership of the Russian Navy and the Ministry of Defense. If a particular concept is approved, its detailed work is entrusted to a specific bureau from the United Shipbuilding Corporation, which subsequently is responsible for the design documentation.
In this regard, specialists of the Krylov Center still have to make great efforts to ensure that the customer accepted the proposed concept and let it in further development. The need for an immediate translation of the "Breeze" into the sketch and then the working design is not so obvious. The matter is that earlier it was decided to launch in a large series - up to thirty buildings - of the project 20380. The military leaders were in favor of replenishment with at least six corvettes of this type of Baltic, Northern and Pacific fleets, which in total gives 24 ships.
As of the summer of 2017, five ships of the project 20380 are in the combat composition of the Russian Navy: Steregushchy, Sobrazitelny, Boikiy, Stoykiy and Perfect. In addition, "Loud" is being built afloat and seven more buildings are in varying degrees of readiness at two enterprises, in St. Petersburg (Severnaya Verf) and Komsomolsk-on-Amur (Amur Shipyard). In short, the previously announced program is far from over. Early termination of it for the sake of a new, albeit more technically advanced, project will inevitably cause delays in re-equipping the fleet and increasing costs for the construction of a certain number of ships.
Comparison with Steregushchy
Recall that the project 20380 represents the corvette standard displacement of 1800 and a total of 2200 tons, which is close to the corresponding figures for the "Breeze". The last one is several meters longer, but a little narrower. The construction of the main building began at the turn of the century; In the fleet "Steregushchy" is almost ten years. Over the past since its commissioning in time, work has been carried out to improve the basic design. The ships of the family, built after the main, were distinguished by the reinforcement of air defense means by replacing the ZRAC "Kortik" with the "Redut" SAM.
The new surface-to-air missile system is a marine version of the land-based S-350 Vityaz system, the main elements of which were first presented to the general public at MAKS-2013. Several types of missiles are used with a starting weight of 140-420 kg, with range of air targets being reduced to 50-140 km. Ammunition of serial corvettes is 12-16 SAM 9M96M / 9M96E.
The next step on the way to improving the basic version will be the replacement of the Uran (Steregushchy received eight anti-ship missile launchers X-35) for the more powerful Caliber-NK. Corresponding changes led to the change of the digital index of the project to 20385. For compliance it gets "Loud". At the end of June, speaking to reporters on the occasion of the launch of the next corvette - Gremyashchy, the head of the shipbuilding department of the Russian Navy, Rear Admiral Vladimir Aleksandrovich Tryapichnikov said that a series of ships of the project 20385 will consist of four buildings, and in the future will be carried out Construction of new projects with an improved index with a numeric index of 20386.
Among the innovations introduced in the above project, it is said about the superstructure of composite materials. It will be made using the method of vacuum infusion. Thus, it found practical application in the manufacture of the center wing and wing consoles of the MS-21 airliner of Irkut Corporation and the entire glider of the Orion-E unmanned aerial vehicle of the Kronstadt group. In short, the project 20380 was suitable for consistent development and modernization, and Steregushchy gave rise to a large series.
Power plant
The relatively low cost of construction and operation of the "Steregushchy" type of corvettes, which makes it possible to produce them in a large series, was obtained, among other things, by switching to diesel engines of Russian origin. Four aggregates 16D49 Kolomna plant with a total capacity of about 23 thousand horsepower give the ship a full course of 27 knots. Foreign customers were offered project 20382 "Tiger" with afterburner gas turbines (at first - Ukrainian enterprise "Zorya-Mashproekt") to increase the course for a couple of knots. "Tiger" was interested in Indonesia and Algeria, with some media reporting on the closure of transactions. However, there is no official confirmation of such information yet.
Presented at the "Army-2017" concept "Corvette displacement of 2000 tons" is designed to use the main power plant with a total capacity of 32 thousand horsepower, such as CODAG, that is, with diesel engines of economic motion and (afterburner) gas turbines for "chase" at speeds of up to 30 knots . There is nothing innovative about this part in the Breeze, as long as the use of the Saturn turbines M-70FRU, M-75RU and M90FR in the domestic fleet replaces the Ukrainian ones from Zori-Mashproekt for ten years already. In practical terms, the matter is restrained only by the absence of commercial copies of this product. True, the Rybinsk enterprise promises such in the very near future.
Concluding the comparison of the concept of the "2000 tons" corvette and "Steregushchy", it is important to note the more advanced character of the Krylov Center development, which allows to hope for its approval by the main customer. Improved seaworthiness will allow the use of corvettes not only in the near sea zone, but also beyond its limits during the stated autonomy of 15 days and the range of navigation of 4000 miles. A strong armament, including the rocket complexes "Caliber-NK", "Reef" and "Package", will create a real one for any enemy on the ground, the sea and under water. ■
https://tvzvezda.ru/news/opk/content/201708240851-bb3c.htm
@vostok Can you tell details about this Corvette ? I have used Google Translator so still confused a little