Project 22160 patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin: a combat corvette of the Black Sea Fleet

The patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin (serial number 163) is the second serial-produced (third in the line) long-range combat ship built under the innovative Project 22160. The technical design and working design documentation were developed by the team at JSC Severnoye Design Bureau (St. Petersburg) in accordance with the requirements of the Russian Navy General Command for new-generation surface ships. The basic tactical and operational concept underlying the Pavel Derzhavin's creation was fundamentally different from Soviet design standards for small, highly specialized strike or anti-submarine platforms. The ship was designed as a versatile, highly autonomous, long-range combat vessel, focused on a wide range of missions: from protecting territorial waters and patrolling the exclusive economic zone to combating piracy, escorting civilian vessels, and maintaining a permanent naval presence in remote ocean areas.

The key technological advantage of Project 22160, fully realized in the design of the Pavel Derzhavin, is the practical implementation of the open architecture principle and modular armament configuration. The designers incorporated significant reserves in the design for displacement, free internal volumes, and connection points to the ship's power and information networks. A closed multifunctional belowdeck compartment is located in the aft hull, directly beneath the flight deck. This space is designed for the rapid stowage of payloads packed in standard 20-foot shipping containers (ISO containers). Depending on the tactical situation and the assigned mission, modules carrying strike missiles, anti-submarine systems, sonar stations, or medical equipment can be installed in the compartment. The modular principle allows for a radical change in the ship's combat profile within a naval base in minimal time, ensuring high operational flexibility.

Hull architecture, shipbuilding hydrodynamics and stealth technologies

When developing the architectural and structural design of the patrol ship "Pavel Derzhavin," engineers at Severnoye Design Bureau implemented a range of advanced solutions in the fields of hydrodynamics and the reduction of unmasking physical fields. The ship's hull features unique contours optimized for high seaworthiness, stability, and reduced wave drag across the entire speed range. The ship has a flush deck, a relatively high freeboard, and a deep V-shaped bow. The geometry of the underwater and above-water sections of the bow ensures effective wave climbing, significantly reduces flooding of the forecastle deck and bridge, and effectively dampens hydrodynamic shocks (slamming) in sea state 6–7. The hull was entirely formed using automatic and semiautomatic welding from high-strength, low-alloy shipbuilding steel.

The ship's integrated superstructure is constructed using a modular-unit design and is manufactured using modern multilayer, flame-retardant polymer composite materials (fiberglass and carbon fiber) produced by Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard. The use of composites significantly reduced the weight of the ship's above-water section, improved its metacentric height, and enhanced the platform's transverse static stability. The Pavel Derzhavin's entire external architecture adheres to strict stealth technology requirements. The superstructure's external surfaces are sloped significantly, completely eliminating straight joints and dihedral angles that could act as corner reflectors for enemy radar. All mooring mechanisms, anchor hawsers, rescue equipment, and semi-rigid motorboats are concealed within isolated enclosures of the hull and superstructure behind sealed hatch ports flush with the main hull plating. The integrated tower-type mast conceals antenna posts under radio-transparent domes, which reduces the ship's effective scattering cross-section (ESC) to a minimum and makes it difficult to identify.

Construction chronology, mooring, factory and state tests

The construction of the patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin took place on the slipway of the Zelenodolsk Plant named after A. M. Gorky in the Republic of Tatarstan. The official hull-laying ceremony took place on February 18, 2016. The construction process utilized a flow-and-position method, whereby large hull blocks were pre-loaded with piping for the ship's general systems, reinforcement elements, and foundations before their final joining on the slipway. Following the completion of the robust steel hull and the completion of weld inspection, the ship was launched on February 21, 2019. Pavel Derzhavin was towed via inland waterways (river and canal systems) to the Black Sea delivery base in Novorossiysk for outfitting, final assembly of the composite superstructure, and integration of the radar systems.

From late 2019 to mid-2020, a large-scale program of mooring and factory sea trials was conducted. Factory specialists and crew members tested the auxiliary diesel generators, ventilation, air conditioning, and dehumidification systems, as well as the reliability of cable networks. During sea voyages, speed and maneuverability were tested, as were propeller shaft vibration parameters and the steering gear at maximum power settings. In August 2020, the ship arrived in Sevastopol for the first time to continue the trial program. In the fall of 2020, the Pavel Derzhavin successfully completed a series of state trials. As part of the combat circuit tests, the crew conducted comprehensive firings from the AK-176MA automatic artillery mount at aerial, coastal, and surface targets, and tested the anti-sabotage systems and jamming systems. On November 27, 2020, a ceremonial raising of the St. Andrew's flag took place at the Novorossiysk Naval Base, officially marking the patrol ship's entry into the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Full tactical and technical characteristics and autonomy parameters

The patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin has a balanced set of technical parameters that allow it to undertake long voyages and operate autonomously in remote areas of the World Ocean:

• Standard displacement is about 1500 tons.
• Full displacement – ​​up to 1800 tons.
• The maximum length (at the design waterline) is 94,1 meters.
• The greatest width (at the level of the main deck) is 14,0 meters.
• Maximum draft (at full displacement) is 4,0 meters.
• Full speed is 25–27 knots.
• Economic (patrol) speed is 16 knots.
• Cruising range (at economical speed with maximum fuel supply) - 6000 nautical miles.
• Autonomy in terms of provisions and fresh water reserves is 60 days.
• The main power plant type is diesel-diesel (two-shaft).
• The total capacity of the power plant is about 12,000 horsepower.
• The regular crew (including officers, warrant officers and a helicopter group) is up to 80 people.

The ship's main power plant and electrical power system

The main propulsion plant (MPP) of the patrol vessel Pavel Derzhavin is designed to maximize fuel efficiency during long patrols and achieve the necessary maneuverability. The propulsion system is a twin-shaft design and consists of two diesel-gear units driving two five-bladed variable-pitch propellers (VPPs). The power plant is powered by modern four-stroke, 16-cylinder 16D49 marine diesel engines with turbocharging and intercooling, developed and manufactured at the Kolomensky Zavod JSC. The total output of the main engines is approximately 12,000 horsepower. Torque is transmitted through complex gearboxes supplied by specialized domestic companies.

The use of variable-pitch propellers optimizes the propulsion system's hydrodynamic performance across the entire speed range and provides the ship with outstanding maneuverability: the Pavel Derzhavin is capable of turning virtually on the spot and performing emergency braking. To reduce underwater noise, the cruise diesel engines are mounted on a two-tier system of rubber-metal shock absorbers, and the exhaust manifolds are equipped with sophisticated water cooling and sound-attenuation systems to reduce thermal signature in the infrared range. The ship's electrical power system includes four diesel generators, each with a capacity of 300 kW, distributed among two isolated engine rooms. The total electrical output is 1200 kW of three-phase alternating current (380 V, 50 Hz), ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the automated control systems and radar stations, even if one compartment is damaged in combat.

Composition of standard artillery, anti-sabotage and anti-aircraft weapons

The Pavel Derzhavin patrol ship's firepower is divided into permanent, basic self-defense weapons and temporarily deployed modular systems. The standard means of destruction and defense include:

• Main artillery complex: A single-gun 76,2-mm AK-176MA universal automatic artillery mount is mounted on the forward deck of the forecastle. The gun is housed in a radar-transparent turret designed using stealth technology. The mount has a rate of fire of up to 125 rounds per minute, and a maximum range of 15,7 km against surface and shore targets. The system is fully automated and interfaced with a digital optical-electronic fire control station, enabling it to effectively engage small aerial targets such as UAVs and cruise missiles.
• Anti-sabotage and machine gun weapons: To protect against attacks from small, high-speed surface targets, combat swimmers, and unmanned craft (UCBs), the ship is equipped with two DP-65 remote-controlled automatic grenade launcher systems and two 14,5mm heavy machine guns on MTPU pedestal mounts located on either side of the bridge. Additionally, the crew is equipped with DP-64 hand-held, double-barreled anti-sabotage grenade launchers.
• Anti-aircraft self-defense missile weapons: The ship's air defense in its basic configuration is provided by the Igla-S or Verba man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), launched from specialized 3M47 Gibka pedestal launchers. This system intercepts visually visible aerial targets at ranges of up to 5-6 km.

Replaceable modular (container) weapons and the specifics of their integration

The Pavel Derzhavin's main tactical advantage is its ability to carry heavy strike or defensive weapons within the framework of interchangeable functional modules. The aft subdeck space provides space for two standard 20-foot containers. The primary option for modular strike armament is the Kalibr-K tactical missile system. Mounted within two standard ISO containers are four vertical launchers for 3M-54 (anti-ship) or 3M-14 (designed for precision strikes against enemy ground infrastructure at long ranges) cruise missiles. The module includes autonomous fire control equipment and power supply systems, integrated into the ship's overall information system via universal interfaces.

In addition to the Kalibr-K missile systems, the Pavel Derzhavin's modular compartment can accommodate containerized sonar systems (for example, the towed Minotaur-ISPN sonar for submarine hunting), electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare systems, and specialized equipment for diving and rescue operations. During the ship's operational use and the increased threat in the Black Sea operational zone, the concept of enhancing air defense by mounting a combat module of the Tor-M2KM land-based anti-aircraft missile system on the flight deck was successfully tested. The module was permanently mounted and operated autonomously, ensuring reliable engagement of precision-guided weapons, guided bombs, and enemy unmanned aerial vehicles at ranges of up to 15 km, confirming the flexibility of the underlying design solutions.

Electronic systems, detection equipment, automation and air group

The control of all combat processes, navigation, and technical equipment on the patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin is fully automated and integrated into a single digital network based on the Sigma-22160 combat information and control system (CICS). The CICS accumulates information from all onboard and external sensors in real time, automatically plots target paths, ranks them by threat level, and provides recommendations to the commander for the use of specific firepower. The primary means of monitoring the air and surface environment is the Pozitiv-MK two-dimensional coherent pulse general-purpose radar, operating in the X-band and mounted under a radio-transparent dome on the mast. The navigation system includes the Pal-N-4 radar, satellite communications systems, and electronic mapping stations. A compact Ariadna sonar is installed in the bow to detect underwater saboteurs and underwater objects.

The Pavel Derzhavin has extensive capabilities for accommodating and deploying aircraft. A permanent enclosed hangar is located in the aft section of the superstructure, designed to permanently accommodate one search-and-rescue or anti-submarine helicopter weighing up to 12 tons (Ka-27, Ka-29 types). The flight deck is equipped with lighting equipment for nighttime landings and an aviation kerosene refueling system. In addition to manned aircraft, the ship has infrastructure for operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), both fixed-wing (Orlan-10 type) and rotary-wing. UAVs are used for aerial reconnaissance, surface situational awareness, and precise target designation at ranges significantly exceeding the range of onboard radars. The stern section below deck is also equipped with a special inclined slipway for the rapid launching and raising of semi-rigid assault motor boats (type RHIB), intended for inspection teams and anti-terrorist groups.

Chronology of the operational-tactical service as part of the Black Sea Fleet

Following its official commissioning and assignment to the 184th Brigade of Waterway Protection Ships of the Novorossiysk Naval Base, the patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin began a period of intensive combat training and operational duties. In 2021, the ship regularly conducted patrols in the Black Sea, practicing joint maneuvering, anti-piracy patrols, and interactions with ships of other classes. The Pavel Derzhavin demonstrated the high performance of its Kolomna diesel engines and excellent endurance—the ship could remain at sea for up to two months without replenishing provisions, a record for ships of its displacement.

Since 2022, the patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin has been actively deployed to perform complex missions in the Black Sea during real-world armed conflict. The ship was deployed to maintain control over the northwestern part of the sea, interdict sea lanes, escort strategically important transports, and protect gas production platforms. During its deployment, the Pavel Derzhavin was repeatedly attacked by enemy air strikes and unmanned kamikaze boats. Thanks to its high maneuverability and the coordinated actions of its AK-176MA artillery mount and MTPU heavy machine gun crews, the ship was able to promptly detect and destroy attacking high-speed targets at a safe distance.

In the fall of 2023, while patrolling near Sevastopol, the ship sustained damage from a naval mine explosion and a stealth underwater vehicle, necessitating repairs. The Pavel Derzhavin's combat experience identified areas for further modernization of Project 22160 ships, addressing the need to integrate standard, long-range fixed air defense systems and enhance electronic warfare capabilities. This confirmed the strength of the steel hull, its high survivability, and the viability of the open-architecture patrol ship concept.