New class of Russian missile boat launched at Vympel Shipyard

The first Stupinets-class missile corvette is launched at Vympel Shipyard in Rybinsk, Russia. (Vympel Shipyard JSC)

Stupinets , the first of a new class of missile boat for the Russian Navy, was launched at Vympel Shipyard in Rybinsk on 31 July, according to local media reports.

Originally laid down in 1992, Stupinets is one of two vessels initially intended to be exported as Tarantul III-class missile boats. However, Russia was unable to find a buyer for the ships and work was halted.

In April 2016 Vympel signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defence to complete the ship for the Russian Navy, albeit with some significant changes to the design.

As completed, Stupinets features a completely different superstructure to the Tarantul III, as well as an updated weapons and sensor fit. This includes removing the four SS-N-22 ‘Sunburn' (3M80 Moskit) missiles mounted to port and starboard of the superstructure on a Tarantul III and replacing them with eight SS-N-25 ‘Switchblade' (3M24 Uran) launchers mounted athwartships aft of the main superstructure.

The other main change from the Tarantul III is in the powerplant, which swaps the all gas turbine or combined gas turbine and diesel set up of the earlier class for an all diesel arrangement consisting of two Zvezda M507s. Zvezda is only able to produce these engines in very small numbers, and they are in demand for other programmes as well such as the Uragan-class corvettes, so this is likely to be one reason why it has taken eight years to get to the point where Stupinets can be launched.