Project 12418 Molniya Missile Boat

History

Project 12418 Molniya is a Russian missile boat derived from the Soviet Project 1241 family. The design retains the general hull form of earlier Project 1241 vessels but introduces different anti-ship weapons and updated electronic systems.

The boat is intended to attack surface combatants, landing forces, and transport ships. It can operate independently or as part of a naval strike group.

Project 12418 vessels have been produced in several configurations. Export boats and the later Russian version represented by Stupinets differ in their superstructures, propulsion systems, missile capacity, speed, and range.

The Project 1241 family entered Soviet naval service in 1979. Project 12418 was developed in Russia as a modernized and initially export-oriented member of this family. Its development replaced the heavy or obsolete anti-ship missiles carried by earlier Project 12411 and Project 12417 boats with the Uran missile system and Kh-35 missiles.

Production involved Russian shipyards and licensed construction in India and Vietnam. Project 1241.8 vessels entered service during the 2000s, and boats of this family were operated by India, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam.

Russia later completed an extensively modified domestic Project 12418 configuration. Stupinets was launched by the Vympel Shipyard in Rybinsk on 29 July 2024. The vessel had originally been associated with an unfinished Project 12421 hull before completion to the revised Project 12418 design.

Design

Project 12418 combines the Project 1241 hull lineage with the Uran anti-ship missile system, a medium-caliber bow gun, and two close-in weapon systems. Its complement is reported as 44 personnel, and the design provides an endurance of up to ten days.

Export configuration

The established export configuration uses a gas-turbine propulsion arrangement with two shafts. Published data describes a maximum speed of approximately 40 knots and a range of about 1,650 nautical miles at 14 knots.

Export boats can carry sixteen 3M24E Uran anti-ship missiles in four quadruple launchers. Gun armament consists of one 76 mm AK-176M mount and two six-barrel 30 mm AK-630M close-in weapon systems. Reported sensors include the 3Ts-25E Garpun-B surface-search radar and the MR-123 Vympel-A fire-control radar. A quadruple launcher for Igla-family portable surface-to-air missiles may also be carried.

Russian Stupinets configuration

Stupinets has a larger superstructure with reduced radar-reflective features and a different propulsion arrangement. Published analysis identifies two diesel engines in a CODAD configuration instead of the four-engine arrangements used by earlier Project 1241 variants. The change reduced maximum speed to approximately 29 knots but was associated with a reported range of 2,900 nautical miles.

The Russian vessel carries eight 3M24 Uran-family missiles in two four-round 3S24 launchers. The launchers are positioned amidships and fire toward opposite sides. The missile system can use the 3M24U version, which has a reported maximum range of 260 km.

Gun armament consists of one 76.2 mm AK-176MA-01 mount and two six-barrel 30 mm AK-630M systems. These weapons are installed in revised low-observable turrets. Electronic equipment reported for the vessel includes the 3Ts25 Harpun surface-target system, MR-123-02/3 Bagira artillery fire-control system, MR-405-1 electronic-warfare system, and MR-231-3 navigation radar. Four KT-216 decoy launchers and Igla or Verba portable surface-to-air missiles provide additional defensive capability.

Operational history

Project 12418 and closely associated Project 1241.8 vessels entered service with several navies during the 2000s. India and Vietnam also participated in the construction of vessels from this design family.

On 25 July 2026, the Security Service of Ukraine reported an attack by an unmanned aerial vehicle against a Russian Project 12418 boat in the Caspian Sea. The supplied report identified Stupinets, hull number 705, as the only boat of this type operating there as of 2025. It did not provide a confirmed damage assessment.

Variants

• Project 1241.8 export configuration: Gas-turbine-powered configuration carrying up to sixteen export-model 3M24E Uran missiles. It is also identified as a member of the Molniya class.
• Project 12418 Stupinets configuration: Revised Russian version with a larger superstructure, diesel propulsion, eight Uran-family missiles, updated electronics, and redesigned gun turrets.
• Project 12421: Related version intended to carry four supersonic 3M80 Moskit anti-ship missiles. Unfinished hulls associated with this program contributed to the later Russian Project 12418 construction effort.

Operators

• India: Operates vessels of the Project 1241.8 family and participated in their construction through Indian shipyards.
• Russia: Operates the revised domestic Project 12418 configuration represented by Stupinets.
• Turkmenistan: Operates Project 1241.8 Molniya-class vessels.
• Vietnam: Operates Project 1241.8 vessels and constructed additional boats under license.

Specifications (Project 12418 Stupinets configuration)

General characteristics

• Type: Missile boat or missile corvette
• Full displacement: Approximately 580 metric tons
• Length: 56.9 m
• Beam: 10.2 m
• Complement: 44 personnel
• Endurance: Up to 10 days

Performance

• Propulsion: Two diesel engines in a CODAD arrangement
• Maximum speed: Approximately 29 knots
• Range: Approximately 2,900 nautical miles

Armament

• Anti-ship missiles: Eight 3M24 Uran-family missiles in two four-round 3S24 launchers
• Main gun: One 76.2 mm AK-176MA-01 mount
• Close-in weapons: Two six-barrel 30 mm AK-630M mounts
• Air defense: Igla or Verba portable surface-to-air missiles
• Countermeasures: Four KT-216 decoy launchers

Electronic systems

• Surface-target system: 3Ts25 Harpun
• Fire-control system: MR-123-02/3 Bagira
• Electronic-warfare system: MR-405-1
• Navigation radar: MR-231-3

Related equipment

• Project 1241: Soviet missile-boat family from which Project 12418 was developed.
• Project 12411: Earlier Project 1241 variant associated with the Moskit anti-ship missile system.
• Project 12421: Related export-oriented Moskit-armed design that preceded completion of the revised Russian Project 12418 vessels.