Russia’s Defense Ministry signed a contract with the Amur Shipyard on building Project 20380 corvettes, Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko announced on Tuesday.

The signing ceremony took place at the Army-2020 international military-technical taking place from 23-29 August 2020 at Patriot Expo (Moscow Region), Kubinka Air Base, Alabino Military Training Grounds.

Currently the Russian Navy operates four corvettes of Project 20380 manufactured by Severnaya verf (Steregushchiy, Soobrazitelniy, Bojkiy and Stojkiy) and two (Sovershenny and Gromkiy) built by the Amur shipyard.

In August, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited the Amur Shipyard.

Project 20380 ships developed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau are designed to accomplish green-water escort and strike missions and patrol coastal waters. They are armed with universal artillery guns, surface-to-air missile/artillery systems, supersonic missiles and automatic artillery launchers. The Project 20380 corvettes can carry a Ka-27 helicopter.

The Russian Defense Ministry also concluded a contract at the Army-2020 forum for purchasing cruise missiles Onix, Krivoruchko said.

The cruise missile 3M55N is part of the ship-borne missile system Onix and coastal missile system Bastion.

“The missile is meant for hitting surface ships, transport, ships, convoys and ground facilities of the enemy,” the Defense Ministry said.

Furthermore, the Defense Ministry signed a state contract for restoring the technical readiness of torpedoes USET-80.

The torpedo USET is capable of hitting surface ships, submarines and coastal facilities. It has been operational in Russia’s Navy since 1980.