Russian Navy Deploys Stoikiy Steregushchiy-Class Corvette In Gulf Of Oman For Joint Exercises With Iranian Navy

The Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet corvette Stoikiy has carried out a bilateral passing exercise (PASSEX) with Iranian Navy vessels in the Gulf of Oman following a port call at Bandar Abbas, according to Russia’s state news agency TASS.

The drill took place on the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime corridor for global energy shipments.

The exercise focused on standard seamanship procedures and coordination at sea rather than forming a combined operational task group.

According to the Baltic Fleet press service, Stoikiy operated alongside Iranian surface units identified as the frigate Alvand, the missile craft Neyze and the corvette Shahid Sayyad Shirazi.

The activity was defined as a PASSEX, a limited-scope naval engagement intended to rehearse basic procedures while vessels are underway.

The training included coordinated tactical manoeuvring, navigational safety measures and maritime traffic deconfliction in a congested operating environment.

Such exercises typically involve bridge-to-bridge communications following collision regulations, formation keeping, signalling drills and close-quarters manoeuvring under controlled conditions.

Stoikiy is a Project 20380 Steregushchiy-class corvette designed for multi-role operations in littoral waters.

Open-source specifications indicate that the vessel’s baseline configuration may include an A-190 100 mm naval gun, Kh-35 Uran anti-ship cruise missiles, the Redut vertical launch air defence system and the Paket-NK anti-submarine and anti-torpedo complex.

The ship can also embark a Ka-27-series helicopter to extend its anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance capability.

Commissioned in 2014 and assigned to the Baltic Fleet, Stoikiy regularly participates in multi-ship drills focused on seamanship and tactical coordination. The port call at Bandar Abbas preceded the exercise at sea.

Separate reports also stated that the corvette had arrived at Iran’s First Naval District ahead of further joint naval exercises between the two countries.

Rear Admiral Hassan Maghsoodloo, identified as spokesperson for the combined drill, was shown at the port during a news briefing, according to state media.

Earlier movements indicate that Stoikiy had been operating around Africa in recent weeks and took part in Exercise Will for Peace-2026 in South Africa in January.

On 4 February, the vessel made a port visit to Port Victoria during events marking the 50th anniversary of Seychelles’ independence.

Per reports, the Udaloy-class frigate RFS Marshal Shaposhnikov, which had recently called at Muscat, was not expected to join the Iran drill as it had sailed east to participate in India’s International Fleet Review.

Iranian participation in the exercise may include units from the 103rd Flotilla, which previously took part in the South African drill.

The flotilla comprises the Bayandor-class corvette IRINS Naghdi, the forward base ship IRINS Makran and the converted oil tanker IRIS Shahid Mahdavi operated by the IRGC Navy.

The exercise is scheduled to take place in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean.

References: armyrecognition, iranintl

Source: Maritime Shipping News