Crimean shipyard lays keel for Russian Karakurt-class Project 22800 corvette

The Russian state-owned shipyard More has laid the keel for the overall seventh Russian Navy Karakurt-class Project 22800 corvette in a ceremony on December 19 in Feodosia, Crimea.

The ship will be named Vikhr and is the third in the class to be built at the More shipyard. The other two ships in the class under construction at More are ‘Storm’ and ‘Okhotsk’.

Project 22800 corvettes were designed by Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau and displace 800 tons. The 67-meter vessels are armed with Kalibr cruise missiles, a 76.2 mm AK-176MA naval gun, two 30 mm cannons and a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.

The ships are capable of reaching speeds of 30 knots and are suited for tasks within 3000 miles from the shore.

Uragan and Typhoon, the first two ships in the class, have been launched so far while additional six units are under construction.