The Russian Northern Design Bureau (Severnoe Design Bureau ) has designed an export-oriented 2,200-t missile corvette on the base of the Russian Navy’s Project 22160 patrol ship. Project 22160 is a series of large patrol ships being constructed for the Russian Navy. The vessels are primarily intended for duties such as patrol, monitoring and protection in open and closed seas. The first ship was laid down in February 2014 and by December 2016 five ships were under construction. The first ship joined the Russian Navy in December 2018.
The ship is among the best in patrolling of large sea and ocean areas situated far from the home port. To ensure distant surface monitoring a helicopter and two UAVs are located aboard the ship. An assault boat and a high-speed motor boat ensuring fast delivery of a special force group or interception of a suspicious vessel are available on board. Project 22160 can be retrofitted up to corvette class, equipped with a modular hospital, unmanned boats and submersible vessels that adds extra functions to the ship.
The design of the new ship was unveiled at the International Maritime Defense Show 2021 held in Saint Petersburg between 23-27 June. In April 2018, it was reported that negotiations are underway after Algeria showed interest in acquiring four project 22160 patrol ships, equipped with the Club-N missile system and the Palma anti-aircraft system which includes the Sosna guided missiles. The demand for ships armed with the Kalibr cruise missiles grew after Russia’s use of these missiles in combat in Syria.
The Project 22160-based light corvette is 94 m long, 14 m wide, and has a draught of 3.4 m. It produces a full speed of 27 kt, a cruise range of 4,500 nm, and an endurance of 30 days. The ship is powered with a 16,000-kW main engine. The class’s armament includes the Kalibr-NK cruise missile and two machine guns and a 76.2 mm dual-purpose gun (AK-176). The ship also has a helicopter deck and hangar for one Ka-27 or Ka-226 helicopter. The corvette can carry a mixed armament suite with a Kalibr-NKE missile system and the 3K96-3E Resurs vertically launched surface-to-air missile system.
