Russian shipyard launches new Corvette last Friday

The local Severnaya Verf shipyard said that a new stealth corvette for the Russian Navy was launched in St. Petersburg last Friday.

ST. PETERSBURG — A new stealth corvette for the Russian Navy was launched in St. Petersburg last Friday, the local Severnaya Verf shipyard said in a statement.

"The float-out of the Project 20385 Gremyashchy corvette took place on June 30," the shipyard said, adding Russian Defense Ministry officials attended the launch ceremony as well.

The multipurpose corvette, which is a fast warship smaller than a destroyer, is equipped with anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons and is able to provide naval gunfire support for shore operations.

Gremyaschy class corvettes have a displacement of over 2,000 metric tons, a speed of up to 27 knots, an operating range of 4,000 nautical miles and a crew of 99.

Sputnik