Karakurt-class (Project 22800)

Summary

Origin country 🇷🇺 Russia
Category Frigate
SubtypeGuided-missile corvette
ManufacturerPella Shipyard
Year commissioned2018
Approx. unit cost$34 million
Units Askold
Kaluga
Kozelsk
Okhotsk
Pavlovsk?
Rzhev
Udomlya
Ussuriysk?
Vikhr
567 Mytischchi
577 Sovetsk
577 Typhoon
584 Odintsovo
606 Tucha
646 Amur

Operators

🇷🇺 Russia

Technical specifications

Displacement800 tons
Range 2500 km
Endurance15
Crew50 members
Width11.0 m (36.1 ft)
Length67.0 m (219.8 ft)
Air Park
Propulsion

CODAD: 3 Zvezda M-507D1 112 c or 16D49 16D500 12V ZE1600KZ turbodiesel engine with 3 diesel generators DGAS-315

Armament
  • 1 × 76.2 mm 59-caliber AK-176MA or 100 mm A-190 automatic dual-purpose guns
  • 1 × Pantsir-M CIWS with Hermes-K missiles or 1 × 3M89 Palash/ Palma CIWS with Sosna-R missiles
  • 2 × AK-630M-2 CIWS and Tor missile system (on first 2 vessels)
  • 2 × 4 UKSK VLS cells for Kalibr or Oniks anti-ship cruise missiles
  • 2 × 12.7x108 mm Kord machine gun
Maximum speed30 knots

Description

Project 22800, designated Karakurt, was developed by the Almaz Design Bureau. The design is a derivative of the Project 12300 Skorpion and was influenced by the Project 21631 Buyan-M class. The Russian Navy commissioned the class to provide a more seaworthy complement to littoral corvettes and as a smaller alternative to the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates following the cessation of technical cooperation with Ukraine. The project was publicly presented in 2015, with construction commencing at the Pella Shipyard later that year.

The class features a stealth-shaped superstructure and an integrated mast equipped with phased-array radar panels. The design incorporates the Mineral-M and Pozitiv-M radar systems. Primary offensive armament consists of cruise missiles launched from vertical cells located aft of the bridge. Defensive equipment differs across the class; early vessels utilized gun-based close-in weapon systems and modular missile units, while subsequent hulls transitioned to the navalized Pantsir-M system. The vessels are powered by a CODAD propulsion system using turbodiesel engines and are not equipped for anti-submarine warfare.

The Russian Navy began operating the class in 2018 with the commissioning of the Mytishchi. Ships have been constructed at yards in Saint Petersburg, Zelenodolsk, Kerch, Feodosia, and Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Domestic engine supply issues have resulted in completion delays for several vessels. Units are currently deployed with the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets, and additional ships are undergoing sea trials for assignment to the Pacific Fleet.

Service history includes instances of combat damage and loss. In November 2023, the Askold was heavily damaged by a cruise missile strike while at the Zaliv shipyard in Kerch. In May 2024, the Tsiklon was reported destroyed. As of 2025, some vessels originally designated for the Black Sea Fleet have been documented operating in the Caspian region. Contractual disputes related to delivery schedules have led to litigation between the Russian Defence Ministry and the Pella Shipyard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of ship is the Karakurt-class?
The Karakurt-class is a frigate (Guided-missile corvette) built by Russia.
What is the displacement of the Karakurt-class?
The Karakurt-class has a displacement of 800 tons.
What is the maximum speed of the Karakurt-class?
The Karakurt-class has a maximum speed of 30 knots (55 km/h).
What is the range of the Karakurt-class?
The Karakurt-class has a range of 2,500 km (1,349 nautical miles).
How many crew members serve on the Karakurt-class?
The Karakurt-class has a crew complement of 50 personnel.
How many Karakurt-class ships have been built?
13 vessels of the Karakurt-class have been built.
Which countries operate the Karakurt-class?
The Karakurt-class is operated by Russia.
How much does a Karakurt-class cost?
The Karakurt-class has an estimated unit cost of approximately $34 million.
Wikipedia and other open sources. Last updated on 18 January 2026. Suggest a change