Russia to lay keel for first vessel of new class of corvettes

The Russian Navy said it was ready to lay the keel for the first ship in a new class of corvettes also referred to as Project 20386.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg on October 28.

Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Korolyov ordered the first vessel to be named Dersky (which translates to impertinent).

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the corvette’s hull and upperworks are designed to decrease radar signature. The modular ships are to be fitted with modern anti-ship and anti-submarine systems as well as an air defense missile system.

They will be propelled by Russian power stations and will be capable of carrying helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles, it was further said.