Russia’s third Steregushchy-class corvette undergoes sea trials

[Nishan_101]

The Russian Navy's third Steregushchy-class (Project 20380) corvette, named Boiky, has started sea trials in the fleet's test ranges to demonstrate its speed, manoeuvring, and vibration capabilities.
Sea trials will validate the performance of Boiky's onboard systems, as well as its design specifications, layouts, technical descriptions and operation manuals, as reported by RusNavy news.
Systems being verified in the trials will include the vessel's powerplant, steering system, auxiliary mechanisms, communication and navigation facilities, and anchor gear at sea.
Scheduled to be complete in December, the sea trials will be followed by state acceptance testing, which is expected to take place in early 2013.
Final outfit decision of the ship will be based on analysis of evaluation results carried out by the trial team, consisting of various shipyard departments representatives and contracting organisations.
Designed by Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, the Steregushchy-class corvettes have a displacement capacity of 2,000t and are capable of reaching a speed of 27k, with accommodation for a crew of 100.
"The sea trials will be followed by state acceptance testing, which is expected to take place in early 2013."
Equipped with SS-N-25 Switchblade anti-ship missiles, a 100mm gun and air defence and anti-submarine systems, the ship features stealth technology that reduces secondary radar fields, as well as acoustic, infrared, magnetic and visual signatures.
Capable of providing artillery support for beach landings, the corvettes can also destroy enemy surface ships, submarines and aircraft.
The first corvette, Steregushchy, is already in service with Russia's Baltic Fleet, while the second ship, Soobrazitelny, joined the navy in 2011.
The fourth vessel Stoyky was rolled-out at St Petersburg's Severnaya Verf shipyard in May and is scheduled to enter service in November 2013, following a series of sea trials.
Russia has plans to acquire up to 30 Steregushchy-class corvettes to defend its oil and gas transportation routes in the Black and the Baltic seas.