Russia Adds New Kalibr Carriers Into Fleet

Russia has commissioned two small missile ships and one patrol ship into its Navy.

The flag-raising ceremonies were held on August 28 in Baltiysk and Makhachkala.

In Baltiysk, the patrol ship Viktor Velikiy, assigned to the Black Sea Fleet, and the small missile ship Stavropol, joining the Baltic Fleet, entered service. In Makhachkala, the small missile ship Typhoon was commissioned.

The additions allow Russia to partly offset fleet losses and maintain its ability to launch cruise missile strikes on Ukraine.

Ship details

The patrol ship Viktor Velikiy is the fifth vessel of Project 22160. Laid down in November 2016 and launched in May 2024, it underwent completion at the Kronstadt Naval Plant before beginning sea trials in early 2025. The ship is designed for coastal defense and escort missions, can carry a Ka-27PS helicopter, and is armed with an AK-176MA naval gun, machine guns, and Shtil-1 and Gibka air-defense systems.

The Stavropol is the twelfth Buyan-M class small missile ship (Project 21631). Construction began in July 2018, it was launched in June 2024, and sea trials started that December. Vessels of this type are equipped with an A-190 naval gun, an AK-630M-2 “Duet” anti-aircraft system, machine guns, Gibka-R air-defense systems, and Kalibr cruise missiles.

The Typhoon (Project 22800, “Karakurt” class) was laid down in 2019 and launched in 2024. Designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, it is armed with a modernized AK-176MA naval gun, two AK-630M anti-aircraft systems, and Kalibr cruise missile launchers.

On the same day, Ukraine’s military intelligence said it struck a Buyan-M class small missile ship in the Sea of Azov near Russian-occupied Crimea during a joint operation of its Active Operations Directorate and Prymary (Ghosts) special unit.