Gepard class frigate for Caspian Sea

During the 1990s the Russian Navy decommissioned a few ships and some of those built in the Soviet times but still being in service have already exceeded their service life. In order to make up for loss of missile boats projects 205U, 206-MR, 1241 and 1234, it was decided to design a missile boat of the fourth generation which would meet the modern demands on combat ships. First of all, an export version of the boat should be designed and only then the boat should be manufactured for the national needs.
Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau also designed the prospective missile boat project 12300 type known as the Scorpion. Designers took into account state-of-the-art developments in the field of hydrodynamics, energy, and weapons applied in Russia and abroad. It resulted in a modern craft with standard displacement of 465 tons with the stealth forms featured for the western ships.
In terms of displacement and major dimensions, she was close to the missile boats of Molniya class, and in terms of weaponry, to the small-sized missile boats of Ovod class.
The armament of project 12300 consists of four fixed launchers for anti-ship missile Yakhont (export version of ASM Oniks) with firing range of 300 km. The target designation is provided by radar Monument with the over-the-horizon detection capability.
Thus, in contrast to the previous small-sized missile boats, the strike range has doubled. The armament is also provided with powerful 100-mm gun A-190E (that is why the boat is classified as missile gunboat) with control system Puma (Laska) and air defence missile/gun system Kashtan/Kortik.
Three-dimensional radar Positive-M1 is used to detect air and surface targets, while radar Buran is used for navigation. In addition, there is Anapa sonar station and four PK-10 launchers. For the first time the ships of this class are provided with combat information and control system Sigma where all ship's combat systems are integrated. It provides the missile boats with efficient combat capabilities as well as with data exchange between boats and ships. It
allows also applying missile and artillery weapons at shore-based targets.
The boat project 12300 is equipped with combined diesel-gas turbine power plant with the capacity of 25,000 hp. Two propellers are used to provide efficient cruising speed. The full speed (38 knots) is provided by hydraulic jet powered
by gas turbine. High seagoing performance is ensured by optimized hull forms and ship’s gyroscopic stabilization system Ladoga which reduces rolling by interceptors.
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With the advent of new millennium Russian authorities are striving to design ships of the twenty-first century.
In August 2002, in accordance with the government programme on Ship’s optimization, the Russian Government adopted the first shipbuilding programme in the modern history of Russia, which included also the construction of small missile boats and small gunnery ships of new generation.
The request for proposal on development of small gunnery ships project 21630 (known also as the Buyan) was assigned to Zelenodolsk Design Bureau.
Its scientific and technical support was carried out by the First Research Institute of the Ministry of Defence.
According to this technical assignment, the ship represented a river-sea vessel and was designed to enhance the surface forces of the Caspian Fleet in the nearest maritime zone and in rivers as well as to protect and guard a two-hundred-miles economic zone of the country.
That is why its designing took into account the features of the Caspian Sea and the Volga River in order to be able to navigate at shallow depths (the depth does not
exceed four meters in the northern part of the Caspian Sea as well as in the territorial waters of Russia). One of the main requirements was to ensure high seagoing performance and cruising range so that it would be possible to cruise in the Volga basin and in the Caspian Sea.
During the development of gunnery ship project 21630, the designers used the latest advancements in the field of naval shipbuilding.
The appearance of new ship was designed in accordance with the modern requirements on radar visibility reduction.
The latter is provided by inclined flat surfaces, bulwarks, and significant reduction of the number of extended hull fittings.
Jib doors and slots in deck erections and structures are used for the same purpose.
Apart from that, the levels of other physical fields were reduced as well.
It should be mentioned that all set of on-board equipment and weapons were produced in Russia.
As a result, the ship has a modern look with smooth shapes and rectilinear planes featured mainly for most foreign ships.
Its total displacement amounts to 600 tons with main dimensions of 62 x 9.6 x 2.5 metres.
The ship is equipped with powerful artillery armament which includes as follows:
- Bow 100-mm gun mount A-190 with control system Laska (maximum firing rate of 80 rounds per minute, firing range of 21.3 km, and vertical range of 15 km);
- Two 30-mm six-barrel guns AK-306 on both sides of the ship (hitting area of 4 km, firing rate of 1,000 rounds per minute);
- Stern 40-barrel 122-mm multiple launch system Grad-M for hitting shore-based targets (firing range from 2 to 20 km, firing period of 10 seconds).
Anti-aircraft weapons are represented by one Gibka pedestal launcher of 3M-47 type (known also as Komar) for four Igla-1M anti-aircraft missiles of 9M342 type in standard
man-portable SAM weapon containers located at stern. This launcher,designed by Ratel JSC, allows killing low-speed air targets such as low-flying aircraft and helicopters at a distance of 6 km and heights of 3.5 km max. One single launch or a salvo fire can be provided simultaneously for target servicing. The launcher is controlled remotely and reloaded manually.
Target designation is provided by surveillance radar station, while fire-and-forget autonomy, by low level TV camera.
Additionally, the ship has two 14.5-mm pedestal machine-gun mounts intended for hitting coastal, sea and air targets. In general, the ship is equipped with the state-of the-art weapons and combat systems what makes it different from the most
Russian and foreign analogues.
The ship is also equipped with three-dimensional general detection radar Pozitiv and navigation radar MR-231 to ensure surface surveillance and target designation data.
In addition, ship project 21630 provided with underwater detection sonar system and grenade launcher to destroy the underwater targets.
The modern navigation system and hydro-meteorological facilities allow the ship to perform combat missions as well as to ensure navigational safety. Communication systems
provide communication with the coastal and shipborne command posts and interacting forces, including aircraft. To provide jamming in infra red, optical and radar range, the ship is equipped with PK-10 jamming systems which have proven themselves for many years so far.
Two-shaft main power plant with total capacity of 16,000 hp is diesel-powered. Two engines of M507A type are manufactured by Zvezda Company in St. Petersburg and each
works at its own shaft. The ship is equipped with unique water-jet propellers produced by Almaz JSC.
Together with shallow draft, it allows the ship to sail even along the small water basins.
The lead ship project 21630 is called the Astrakhan.

medo wrote:Caspian sea is very rich with oil and gas, so I don't think it is a waste of money to secure this region.

I think Russia is now more oriented in defending its near sea and coast than in projecting power overseas on in blue water.

medo wrote:Vietnamese Gepards have helicopters and by size they are small frigates. Anyway I think helicopter would be still very useful although Caspian sea in closed sea or large lake, if someone more likes in that way and is divided between five states and rich with gas and oil. Helicopter would be a big help for ship on their duty in patroling and protecting oil fields.