Russia's Vympel Shipyard launched a new Russian Navy guided-missile corvette on Monday, July 29. The future Stupinets belongs to the Project 1241.8 series, which was derived from the Project 1241 or Tarantul-class corvettes originally designed and built for the Soviet Navy in the late 1970s.
Designed by Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, the corvette will be used primarily in anti-surface warfare, whether independently or as part of a naval strike group. Upon completion, it will have a length of 56 metres, a displacement of 480 tonnes, and a crew of 50.
Armament will include a 76mm dual-purpose main gun, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and a close-in weapon system. Two diesel engines will meanwhile deliver a maximum speed of 29 knots and a range of 2,400 nautical miles.
Unlike the earlier Project 1241 ships, the future Stupinets and its Project 1241.8 sisters will each have a superstructure with stealth features and a greater volume to allow the placement of two anti-ship missile launchers amidships for better coverage.
