Analysis: Project 22160 corvettes provide guidance for S-400

Project 22160 corvettes learned to provide guidance to Vityaz S-350 and Triumf S-400 air defense launchers against adversary aircraft and helicopters. The launchers remain unnoticed, as they do not switch on radars up to the strike. Experts believe the new tactic will increase effectiveness and survivability of air defense, the Izvestia daily writes.

Project 22800 corvette (Karakurt-class) (Picture source: Mil.ru)

Project 22160 corvettes can unite several air defense weapons into a single fire force. The automatic control system independently identifies targets and distributes them between S-350 and S-400. In future, Karakurt-class corvettes of project 22800 will have the same capabilities, Defense Ministry sources said.

The new tactic will make the corvettes quickly expand the radar field in sea and coastal areas, former chief of Russian antiaircraft missile forces Alexander Gorkov said. "The warships will help the air defense to rapidly detect the adversary, assess the threat and prudently respond. It will increase the effectiveness of ground air defense and its survivability. The corvettes will be fruitful in the creation of local naval air defense areas. All weapons of one squadron or naval group are managed by a single automatic control to prudently distribute targets and select weapons," he said.

The naval air defense for the first time operated by a similar principle during World War Two. Warships with radars advanced to prepare the main force for a strike, expert Dmitry Boltenkov said. "In the Falkland war of 1982, the British Navy provided two groups of such warships. However, there were losses. The Argentine aviation sank the Sheffield destroyer," he said.

Now the tactic to fight airplanes and helicopters can be adjusted. Corvette radars will initially detect the aircraft, specify their location, altitude, speed and course. The automatic control will assess the objects on the basis of an electronic database with the main aircraft parameters to prudently identify the targets. The data will be reported to S-350 and S-400. The data exchange will take place in real-time, as modern electronics can process big volumes of information.

The air defense will switch on the radars to illuminate the targets at the last moment. Adversary pilots will have no time to choose the counteraction tactic and fire antiradar missiles.

Project 22160 corvettes with stealth technologies are good scouts. They are invisible due to angled superstructure and protection of the upper deck with radio transparent composite materials. They are fast, compact with a length of 94 meters and a displacement of 1800 tons and can stay away from the coast up to two months.

The corvettes detect targets by radars and can also carry drones or one Ka-27, Ka-29 or Ka-52K helicopter in a hangar. Drones covertly monitor in a radius of hundreds of kilometers and expand reconnaissance capabilities. It is difficult for the adversary to detect a small drone.

Project 22160 corvettes were initially designed for defense of territorial waters, the fight against smuggling and for rescue operations. However, they are universal ships and can deliver a powerful, strike at adversary naval forces. The corvettes have a modular design and can carry various arms, including Kalibr missiles, the Izvestia said.

Project 22160 corvette (Picture source: Mil.ru)

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