On January 30, a new small missile ship "Graivoron" of project 21631 "Buyan-M" will enter the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

This was reported by the RF Ministry of Defense.

"Sevastopol will host celebrations dedicated to the admission of the small missile ship Grayvoron to the Black Sea Fleet, during which the ceremony of raising the Andreevsky flag on the ship, a solemn meeting with the participation of representatives of the Black Sea Fleet command, military personnel and veterans of the Black Sea Fleet will take place," ...

"Graivoron" is the ninth ship of the upgraded Buyan-M series, which was built for the Black Sea Fleet.

These ships have an increased displacement for their class, and as weapons they are equipped with high-precision long-range guided missiles "Caliber-NK" designed to destroy sea and coastal targets.

In August last year, "Grayvoron" arrived at the Novorossiysk naval base for state tests, and in September it made its first exit to the sea as part of factory running tests.

"Grayvoron" will become the fourth small missile ship with cruise missiles "Caliber" in the Black Sea Fleet.

Russian project 21613 Buyan-M corvettes are multipurpose missile and artillery ships of a new generation.

Their tasks include patrolling sea areas in the open coastal waters of the seas and oceans, as well as in inland seas and navigable rivers.

At the same time, their armament - the Kalibr-NK cruise missiles - makes it possible to hit not only ships, but also ground targets at a considerable distance from the coastline.

The Buyans gained fame after participating in an operation against terrorists in Syria in October 2015 - small missile ships of this project - Uglich, Grad Sviyazhsk and Veliky Ustyug - struck cruise missiles of the Caliber complex at militant targets.

After this operation, the Buyan-M series ships attracted the attention of Western media.

Thus, the American military analytical publication The National Interest wrote that the Russian corvette is capable of carrying out a more massive strike than the American frigates of the Oliver Hazard Perry type, and in terms of its firepower it surpasses the coastal zone ships in service with the US Navy.

The publication noted that in the US naval forces, only the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and the Ticonderoga-class missile cruisers, which are much larger in size and much more expensive, can be compared with the Buyans.

Currently, the Russian Navy is armed with eight ships of this type, three more - "Grad", "Naro-Fominsk" and "Stavropol" are under construction.

Powerful weapons

The main armament of Project 21613 "Buyan-M" ships is a launcher for "Caliber", the ammunition of which is eight missiles.

In addition, the ship is equipped with an A-190 artillery unit of 100 mm caliber, a Gibka turret launcher and an AK-630M-2 Duet complex.

Small missile ships do not have heavy anti-aircraft weapons, since the concept of its use implies cover with coastal air defense means.

In August last year, the head of the Ak Bars shipbuilding corporation, Renat Mistakhov, said that the Project 21631 Buyan-M ships, together with the Project 11661 Gepard patrol ships, could receive an increased ammunition load for the Caliber missiles during modernization.

According to him, the Navy is interested in this proposal.

  • Launches of cruise missiles "Caliber" from the frigate "Admiral Essen" at the objects of the terrorist group ISIS banned in the Russian Federation in Syria

  • RIA News

  • © Ministry of Defense of Russia

“We have proposed for two projects 21631 and 11661 concept with an increase in displacement.

For example, on Buyans, we proposed to supply 16 launchers instead of eight.

And on the "Cheetah" they proposed to expand the missile weapons to 24 launchers, "- quotes the words of Mistakhov TASS.

Each ship will be equipped with one more universal complex with vertical launch silos, while the hulls will not be modified, with the exception of the increased displacement.

“We propose to take as a basis the hull that has proven itself, including in combat conditions, because a successful ship's hull is seaworthiness ... This will, of course, pull the displacement along with it.

If we take a small rocket ship, its displacement with an additional UKSK will increase from 900 to about 1.3-1.5 thousand tons. If we take on the basis of Project 11661, then three UKSKs can be delivered to its displacement even now, ”explained Renat Mistakhov ...

The Buyans' dignity was highly appreciated in an interview with RT by the doctor of military sciences, retired captain of the 1st rank Konstantin Sivkov.

“They have eight launchers on which the Caliber missiles are installed, which is their main advantage.

In addition, they are equipped with air defense systems, with the help of which they can fight against two or three enemy targets.

This is a good warship that will strengthen the potential of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, ”Sivkov said.

Black Sea reinforcement

The Russian navy is working to further expand the possibilities of using small missile ships, experts say.

In 2019, Project 21631 Buyan-M ships took part in the exercises of the Caspian Flotilla, during which new tactics of air defense of naval formations were worked out.

It lies in the fact that small missile ships will become the "eyes" of the attack ship groups.

Their on-board systems and radars were integrated with the flotilla's combat reconnaissance circuit.

The Izvestia newspaper, citing the General Staff of the Russian Navy, reported that the new tactics of using small missile ships were recognized as successful and confirmed the high capabilities of ships of this class.

  • The boat at the newest project 21631 small missile ship of the Russian Navy "Orekhovo-Zuevo" in Sevastopol

  • RIA News

  • © Alexey Malgavko

It was reported that now it will be implemented in all other fleets where there are similar ships.

According to the military expert, retired colonel Viktor Litovkin, these ships of the near sea zone are designed to protect coastal waters and the economic zone of Russia.

“Considering that they are equipped with modern powerful cruise missiles of the“ Caliber ”type, they can also solve tasks in the Mediterranean Sea, strike at coastal targets and at ships of a potential enemy.

Given the current geopolitical situation, the presence of such ships armed with high-precision missile weapons in the Black Sea is important.

This good, small, but effective ship will reliably strengthen the combat readiness of the Black Sea Fleet, ”the expert concluded.