The Russian Navy’s new Project 20385 corvette, RFS Gremyashii arrived at the White Sea Naval Base of the Northern Fleet for state tests. On the berth, the ship was met by Rear Admiral Konstantin Kabantsov, commander of the Belomorsky naval base. After receiving the report of the corvette commander on the successful completion of the inter-naval transition and the readiness to conduct tests in the White Sea, Rear Admiral Konstantin Kabantsov congratulated the crew of Gremyashii on their arrival at the White Sea base and examined the ship.
The Gremyashchiy class (Thunderous), Russian designation Project 20385, is an advanced development of the Steregushchiy-class corvettes of the Russian Navy. This follow-on project was designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau in Saint Petersburg. The first ship was laid down on 26 May 2011 and the official laying down ceremony took place on 1 February 2012. Gremyashchiy-class corvettes are very large multipurpose vessels, designed to complement the Steregushchiy class already being commissioned with the Russian Navy.
These new ships are equipped with a UKSK VLS system comprising eight launchers for either Kalibr, Oniks or Zircon anti-ship/cruise missiles. The Redut VLS system with 16 launchers has been placed on the stern. Another difference is the lack of the aft mast above the helicopter hangar, and single integrated mainmast that no longer includes separate open shelves for artillery and navigation radars. On 31 October 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced corvette Gremyashchiy will be equipped with the hypersonic 3M22 Zircon anti-ship cruise missiles.
