Russian Navy to receive three additional Buyan-M class corvettes

The Russian Navy will take delivery of three more Project 21631 (Buyan-M)-class missile corvettes by the end of 2015, Russian Navy commander admiral Viktor Chirkov has revealed.

Chirkov was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying that, "The navy is expecting the Veliky Ustyug corvette this year and two more warships of the same class in 2015."

A total of nine Project 21631 (Buyan-M) corvettes have been ordered by the Russian defence ministry for the navy, six of which would be assigned to the Caspian Flotilla.

The Grad Sviyazhsk and the Uglich, the first and second Buyan-M corvettes respectively, were commissioned with the flotilla in early 2014, according to Chirkov.

In August 2013, the Zelenodolsk shipyard commenced the construction of the sixth corvette in the series, the Vyshny Volochek.
Capable of cruising at a maximum speed of 25k, the 949t Project 21631 ships, the missile variants of Project 21630, are armed with Kalibr (SS-N-27) anti-ship missiles, 100mm and 30mm guns, and Igla-1M air defence missiles.

In a separate development, the Russian Navy's first diesel-powered Project 22160 patrol ship, Vasily Bykov, has been launched during a ceremony at Russia's Zelenodolsky shipyard.

Armed with a single 57mm cannon, heavy machine guns, air defense systems and optional missile launchers, the 1,300t ship will be used for economic zone patrol, search-and-rescue operations, anti-piracy and anti-smuggling activities, environmental monitoring, as well as coastal defence and escort service.

Planned to feature a helicopter landing pad on its aft deck, the vessel will have a range of 6,000nm.

Russian captain first rank Igor Dygalo said, "This ship is a vessel of a new generation, built according to modular principles."

A navy spokesperson said a total of six ships of the class are expected to be built by 2019.http://www.naval-technology.com/