Russia launches 9th Steregushchiy-class corvette Grozny to expand anti-submarine patrols in the Pacific.

The Amur Shipbuilding Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur launched the ninth Project 20380 Steregushchiy-class corvette, Grozny (pennant number 551), marking the fifth vessel of this design built at the yard for the Russian Pacific Fleet. Designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau to replace aging Project 1124 Grisha-class littoral units, the 2,200-tonne multi-role warship now enters its outfitting phase prior to state sea trials. Once commissioned, the Grozny will expand the Pacific Fleet’s operational inventory of Project 20380 corvettes to five units, strengthening anti-submarine warfare, local air defense, and surface patrol operations across the Russian Far East.

Russia launched the Project 20380 Grozny corvette on October 23, 2026, after five years and two months of construction, adding a new Steregushchiy-class vessel to the Pacific Fleet to expand its anti-submarine patrol and escort capabilities. (Picture source: USC)

On October 23, 2026, Russia launched the Project 20380 Steregushchiy-class corvette Grozny (551) at the Amur Shipbuilding Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, marking the fifth corvette of this design constructed there for the Pacific Fleet and the ninth completed hull of the class. Laid down on August 23, 2021, the Grozny reached launch after 1,887 days, compared with 3,248 days for the Sovershenny, 1,988 for the Gromkiy, 1,513 for the Aldar Tsydenzhapov and 1,826 for the Rezkiy. The vessel was moved from its slipway using the Amurets pontoon dock and transferred to an outfitting pier for completion of machinery, electrical installations, weapons integration, and acceptance preparations. Its crew began training on October 5, while Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Viktor Liina indicated commissioning within the coming years without announcing a date.

Once operational, the Grozny would increase the Pacific Fleet's Project 20380 inventory from four to five corvettes, a 25% increase. However, these capabilities remain unavailable until the ship completes harbour trials, sea trials and state acceptance. Amur's Project 20380 construction history shows that completing and commissioning a corvette has frequently required considerably more time than launching its hull. The Sovershenny was laid down on June 30, 2006, launched on May 22, 2015, and commissioned on July 20, 2017, requiring 4,038 days overall, including 790 days after launch. The Gromkiy followed between February 17, 2012, and December 25, 2018, requiring 2,503 days, including 515 after its July 28, 2017, launch.

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The Aldar Tsydenzhapov required 1,983 days between July 22, 2015, and December 25, 2020, including 470 after launch, while the Rezkiy required 2,631 days between July 1, 2016, and September 14, 2023, including 805 after launch. The average post-launch interval was therefore 645 days, placing the Grozny's potential commissioning in August 2028 if that historical average were repeated, although no delivery schedule has been confirmed. The Braviy, laid down on September 29, 2021, remains under construction, while a December 2020 procurement arrangement covers two additional Project 20380 and four Project 20385 corvettes, originally scheduled for delivery between 2024 and 2028. 

Designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau to replace the Project 1124 Grisha-class, the Project 20380 Steregushchiy-class combines surface warfare, anti-submarine operations and local air defense in a 104.5 m hull with a 13 m beam and 3.7 m draught. Displacement increases from 1,800 tonnes standard to 2,200 tonnes fully loaded, while the steel hull contains nine watertight subdivisions beneath a composite superstructure incorporating radar-absorbent fiberglass and angular surfaces. Propulsion consists of four Kolomna 16D49 diesel engines driving two shafts, producing 23,664 hp (17.6 MW), allowing a maximum speed of 27 knots, a 3,800-nautical-mile range at 14 knots, and a maximum endurance of 15 days. Four 630 kW diesel generators provide 2,520 kW of installed electrical capacity, and vibration-isolated machinery foundations reduce acoustic transmission relevant to submarine detection.

With 90 to 100 crew members, a helicopter hangar, multiple sonar installations and three principal weapons groups, the vessel accommodates capabilities normally distributed across specialized patrol and anti-submarine ships, although its endurance and diesel fuel capacity limit sustained independent operations beyond regional waters. The corvette's principal anti-surface armament comprises eight Kh-35 Uran missiles in two quadruple launch assemblies, supported by an A-190 100 mm naval gun firing 50 to 60 rounds per minute. The Kh-35 measures 3.85 m in length, weighs 520 kg, carries a 145 kg warhead, and is powered by an R95TP-300 turbojet. The missile travels at Mach 0.8 to 0.95, using inertial guidance and an ARGS-35E X-band terminal radar seeker, while its flight altitude decreases from 10-15 m during cruise to approximately 4 m during terminal approach.

Range increases from 130 km for the original Kh-35 to 260 km for the Kh-35U, whose installation aboard the Grozny remains unconfirmed. At the specified speeds, covering 130 km requires between 6.7 and 8 minutes, compared with 13.4 to 15.9 minutes over 260 km, excluding acceleration and flight-path variations. Over-the-horizon engagements therefore require sufficiently accurate target location information and, where necessary, external surveillance support. With no established onboard reload magazine, the eight ready missiles constitute the vessel's complete immediate anti-ship salvo inventory, permitting four two-missile allocations before replenishment. Later Steregushchiy-class corvettes carry twelve Redut vertical-launch cells instead of the Kashtan missile-gun installation fitted to the original Steregushchiy. The 9M96E2 missile measures 5.65 m, weighs 420 kg, and carries a 24 kg warhead, with a maximum engagement range of 120 km, an altitude ceiling of 30 km, and a specified velocity of 1,800 m/s.

Twelve missiles permit six two-missile engagements before replenishment, while compatible configurations can accommodate four shorter-range 9M100 missiles per cell, theoretically increasing capacity to 48 interceptors at the expense of medium-range coverage. Close-in defense consists of two AK-630M six-barrel 30 mm guns, each firing 4,000 to 5,000 rounds per minute, with effective ranges of 4 km against aircraft and 5 km against surface targets. At maximum rate, one gun expends 500 rounds in six seconds, while its 2,000-round primary ammunition feed supports 24 seconds of continuous fire, supplemented by 1,000 reserve rounds. TK-25E-5 electronic countermeasures and four PK-10 decoy launchers provide additional protection. Anti-submarine equipment includes two quadruple Paket-NK launchers carrying eight 324-330 mm anti-submarine or anti-torpedo weapons, a Zarya-M bow-mounted sonar and a Vinyetka low-frequency active/passive towed-array sonar.

The eight launch positions accommodate weapons for both submarine engagement and torpedo interception, meaning that a mixed load reduces the ammunition available for either task individually. A stern hangar accommodates one Ka-27 helicopter, extending submarine search and localization, while provision for an Orlan-10 drone adds reconnaissance capability. Earlier corvettes employ the Furke-2 air-search radar, the Garpun-B/3Ts-25E surface-search radar, the Monument targeting radar, the Puma gun fire-control radar, and the Gorizont-25 navigation radar. Later vessels, beginning with the Aldar Tsydenzhapov, incorporate the Zaslon multifunction radar complex with X-band and S-band arrays. The Sigma combat information management system integrates radar, sonar, navigation, and weapons information and enables tactical exchanges with other ships. 

The Steregushchiy-class corvettes of the Pacific Fleet operate in the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and East China Sea, conducting escort, anti-submarine screening, and surface patrol missions. Between December 21 and 27, 2022, the Sovershenny and the Aldar Tsydenzhapov exercised with the Chinese Navy alongside the cruiser Varyag and the Marshal Shaposhnikov, while the Rezkiy, the Aldar Tsydenzhapov, and the Gromkiy visited Malaysia in October 2024. Between March 28 and April 2, 2025, the Aldar Tsydenzhapov and the Rezkiy participated in Exercise INDRA with Indian warships INS Rana and INS Kuthar, supported by the tanker Pechanga. At 14 knots, the class's maximum range permits a theoretical 1,900-nautical-mile outward transit and return without refuelling, excluding fuel reserves, manoeuvring and higher-speed consumption.

Amur's parallel Project 20385 construction programme is replacing the Project 20380's dedicated Kh-35 launch assemblies with UKSK vertical-launch equipment compatible with Kalibr-family and other missiles, which expands potential strike missions beyond the Kh-35's anti-surface role. However, the vulnerability of Project 20380 corvettes became evident on June 3, 2026, when Ukrainian drones struck the Boikiy while the ship was undergoing repairs at Kronstadt's Veleshchinsky dry dock. At least two impacts occurred behind the bridge and mast, causing a fire across a substantial section of the superstructure, although the extent of damage to radar arrays, communications equipment, electrical cabling and combat system electronics remains undetermined.

Damage in this area can disable surveillance and weapons-control functions without destroying the hull or propulsion machinery, potentially extending repair time through the replacement and testing of specialized equipment. Additionally, on July 29, 2026, the Baltic Fleet corvette Stoikiy was fitted with additional 12.7 mm Kord and 7.62 mm PKM machine guns along its sides to counter small USVs at short distances. Once the Grozny enters service, five Pacific Fleet Project 20380 corvettes would collectively possess a nominal capacity of 40 Kh-35 missiles, 60 Redut cells, 40 Paket-NK launch positions, ten AK-630M guns, and five helicopter facilities, but its operational impact will depend on the fleet's ability to keep its ships available despite maintenance requirements and the risk of Ukrainian strikes during port operations.

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Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, South Korea, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.