Corvette
Karakurt-class corvette
The Karakurt-class (Project 22800) is a Russian small missile ship of around 870 t, built by Pella, Zelenodolsk and Zaliv and in service since 2018. Despite its size, it carries an 8-cell launcher for Kalibr cruise missiles.
Russia|Pella & Zelenodolsk & ZalivOverview
The Project 22800 Karakurt corvette was designed for coastal waters, and the lead ship Uragan was commissioned in 2018. Builders are Pella near Saint Petersburg, Zelenodolsk in Tatarstan and Zaliv in Kerch. The ship displaces about 800–870 t, is 67 m long, reaches about 30 knots on three diesels and has a range of roughly 2,500 nm. The crew is about 39. Armament is an 8-cell UKSK launcher, an A-190 100 mm gun and the Pantsir-M air-defence system.
The UKSK launcher fires Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, which have a land-attack range of up to 2,500 km, and Oniks or Tsirkon missiles are claimed as options. Between 2018 and 2025 roughly 14–18 ships were commissioned or planned across the Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific fleets, with counts varying by source. Karakurt ships fired Kalibrs at Ukraine in 2022 from the Caspian and Baltic seas. Ukraine has struck ships of the class, but Russian confirmation is partial. An export design, Project 22800E, has no customers yet.
Key Specifications
Variants
The standard Project 22800 Karakurt is the small missile ship with an 8-cell UKSK launcher and Pantsir-M.
The Pella-built ships come from the Otradnoye yard near Saint Petersburg and serve mainly in the Baltic Fleet.
The Zaliv-built ships come from the Kerch yard in Crimea and serve with the Black Sea Fleet.
Operators
RussiaFrequently Asked Questions
What weapons does the Karakurt-class carry?
The Karakurt-class carries an 8-cell UKSK launcher for Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, an A-190 100 mm gun and a Pantsir-M air-defence system. Oniks or Tsirkon missiles are claimed as options.
What is the range of Kalibr missiles on the Karakurt?
Kalibr-NK missiles fired from the Karakurt-class have a land-attack range of up to 2,500 km. That lets a small 870 t ship strike targets far inland. Karakurt ships fired Kalibrs at Ukraine from the Caspian and Baltic seas in 2022.
How many Karakurt-class ships are there?
Roughly 14–18 Karakurt-class ships were commissioned or planned between 2018 and 2025. Counts vary by source, and plans were repeatedly extended. They serve in the Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific fleets.
How big is the Karakurt-class corvette?
The Karakurt-class is about 67 m long and displaces roughly 800–870 t at full load. It reaches about 30 knots with a crew of around 39. Its range is about 2,500 nm.
Karakurt vs Buyan-M: what is the difference?
The Karakurt is a seagoing corvette of about 870 t with an 8-cell UKSK launcher. The Buyan-M is a smaller river-sea ship that also fires Kalibr missiles. The Caspian Flotilla uses Buyan-M ships.
Has Ukraine hit Karakurt-class ships?
Ukraine has struck Karakurt-class ships in the Black Sea with naval drones and missiles. Russian confirmation of the damage is only partial, so the full extent is unclear.