Crimean shipyard launches new Karakurt-class corvette built for Russian Navy

Butoma Shipyard located in Kerch, Crimea, has held a launching ceremony for the new Karakurt-class corvette Askold built for the Russian Navy.

“The launch ceremony was held under the direction of Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov who also inspected the course of surface shipbuilding at the Shipyard and its production capacities,” according to the Crimean State Council’s press office.

The Askold will be the second Project 22800 corvette built at the this shipyard, while the first corvette Tsiklon was put afloat last summer. Currently, the warship is undergoing a series of sea trials in Novorossiysk.

The third corvette Amur is at the stage of its construction in the shipyard’s slipway, with the work on its hull completed and the assembly of its equipment underway, according to the ministry.

The Project 22800 Karakurt-class guided-missile corvettes are intended to conduct anti-surface and anti-air warfare, as well as coastal surveillance missions in littoral zones.

Despite its lower class, the firepower of a Karakurt corvette can be compared to a frigate. These ships are capable of achieving and maintaining maritime supremacy of an assigned sea area and of delivering missile strikes against critical land facilities located at the depth of an enemy’s territory.

Multichannel anti-aircraft artillery-missile system ensures strong defence of a ship from all types of aerial attack means.

A total of 18 Project 22800 Karakurt-class corvettes are to be included in the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet and Northern Fleet by 2022.