If necessary, it will be able to operate in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas
In the near future, the Stupinets missile boat of Project 12418 will join the Caspian Flotilla. The crew has been formed and is already at the shipyard. The boat is designed to destroy combat surface ships, boats and enemy transports independently and in cooperation with the strike forces of the fleet. Experts note that the new boat will be able to operate not only in the Caspian Sea, but also in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas, which will allow, if necessary, to quickly strengthen the Black Sea Fleet.
The Lightning is coming back
Now the crew of the Stupinets rocket boat of project 12418 is at the shipyard and is preparing to move in. After conducting all types of tests and receiving the ship, the new combat unit will become part of the Caspian Flotilla (CFl). Documents and an extract from the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy on assigning his own name to the new missile boat have already been received. The name Stupinets was transferred to a new boat after the withdrawal of the ship of the same name from the CFl at the request of veteran sailors of the Stupinsky district of the Moscow Region to preserve continuity, sources in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation told Izvestia.
Earlier, Izvestia wrote that the Russian Navy will receive two new large missile boats of project 12418 — this is an improved legendary Soviet project 1241 "Lightning". They were originally intended for a foreign customer, but the contract was canceled, and the domestic Navy became interested in ready-made hulls. According to preliminary information, the second boat should go to strengthen the Black Sea Fleet.
Project 12418 Molniya missile boat
Image source: Photo: Rosoboronexport
— This is a fairly large ship with a displacement of about 480 tons — in NATO, domestic Lightning and their modifications are classified as small missile corvettes, — military expert Captain I rank Vasily Dandykin told Izvestia.
"We are getting a serious boost," he said. — He has a good artillery component. During the modernization, he most likely received a new electronic warfare system and radio equipment. But the most important thing is more long—range modern missiles. It will be a good ship for the Caspian Sea, but most importantly, it will be useful in the Azov and Black Seas.
The updated Molniya is capable of solving a wide range of combat tasks, military expert Dmitry Boltenkov told Izvestia.
The Uranus missile system
Image source: Photo: Rosoboronexport
"The new boats will receive Uran missile systems with X-35 anti—ship missiles," the expert noted. — These are modern, new and compact rockets. The boat appears at the right moment. Now all countries are increasing their fleets in the Caspian Sea — Iran, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and even Kazakhstan is building warships. At the same time, if necessary, the ship can be sent by inland waterways to strengthen the Black Sea and even the Baltic and Northern fleets — its dimensions allow it to be transported along the internal river arteries of the country. Such experience has been gained in recent years by the ships of the Caspian Flotilla.
The expert also recalled that the Zippers had proven themselves well not only in the Soviet and Russian Navies, they were willingly bought by other states.
Powerful missiles
The project 12418 Molniya missile boat is an upgrade of the 1241 Molniya family missile boat in the export version. The new project provides for the installation of a complex of anti-ship missiles "Uranus" and advanced radio equipment. Boats of this project were supplied abroad — to Vietnam and Turkmenistan.
A mock-up of the X-35UE tactical anti-ship missile of the Uranus complex at the International Naval Salon in St. Petersburg
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexey Danichev
Instead of outdated anti-ship missiles "Mosquito", the updated "Lightning" is equipped with the Uranus complex with eight universal X-35 missiles, each of which can hit surface and ground targets at a distance of up to 260 km. With a relatively small mass and dimensions, these missiles have an autonomous guidance system. The X-35 is well protected from interference, attacks the target in groups and can break through enemy air defenses at low altitude.
In addition, the missile is equipped with a powerful penetrating high-explosive warhead, which is designed to destroy missile, torpedo, artillery boats, surface ships with a displacement of up to 5,000 tons and sea transports. But even for larger ships, a single missile hit can cause serious damage.
AK-176M automatic Artillery system
Image source: Photo: TASS/Vadim Zhernov
The boat is also armed with an AK-176M 76.2 mm caliber artillery mount, specially designed for small displacement ships and boats. It can fire in three modes — 30, 60 or 120 rounds per minute. The range is about 16 km.
Two universal AK-630 installations are installed on board the boat. They can hit aerial targets at a range of up to 4 km and light enemy surface forces at distances of up to 5 km. Finally, the crew is armed with 12 Igla portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
New boats for the Navy
Now the boats are being actively upgraded taking into account the experience of their own. Earlier, Izvestia wrote about the development of two new boats ― Raptor 2.0 and Katran-Hunter.
The updated Raptor has increased engine power, hull length, and changed the weapons system. During the modernization, special attention was paid to import substitution, production is fully localized at domestic enterprises.
Raptor patrol speedboats during the landing of marines with equipment on an unequipped section of the coast at the Opuk training ground during exercises. The year 2021
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Instead of the "Cord", it has a 12.7 mm Narwhal module with increased range of application. While maintaining a maximum speed of 50 knots, the cruising range and amphibious capacity have increased to 400 miles — now the boat can take up to 20 people on board.
In addition, at the request of the customer, the new Raptor, in addition to the standard combat module, can be equipped with a multi-caliber rocket launcher or UAV.
Katran-hunter has a cabin for 10 people. On board, it can carry a 30-millimeter AK-306 artillery launcher and an attack UAV complex. His task is to protect the near—sea zone, combat unmanned boats, and support the disembarkation of personnel from the amphibious Raptors.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov
