Russia plans to order modernization for project 1234 Nanuchka class missile corvettes.

The Russian Defense Ministry plans to order the modernization of an additional shipment of three project 1234 small missile ships for the Russian Pacific Fleet. The Soviet Project 1234 Ovod NATO reporting name Nanuchka class is a series of corvettes or small missile ships built for the Soviet Navy and export customers between 1969 and 1991.

Nanuchka class was the NATO reporting name for a series of corvettes or small missile ships built for the Soviet Navy. (Picture source Wikipedia)

The ships of the project 1234 are intended for protection of sea communications, protection of escorts, struggle against the surface ships in coastal areas.

Their service life will be extended for eight years, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Krivoruchko said during a visit to the North Eastern Repair Center in Vilyuchinsk as quoted by the Russian Defense Ministry.

The North Eastern Repair Center has handed over the Smerch small missile ship, which was upgraded to the 1234.1 level, to the fleet ahead of schedule in 2019. Krivoruchko said that the modernization of the three small missile ships would take five years if approved. He added that the 1234.1 modernization project provides for replacing the Malakhit missile system, which is in service with these ships, with modern Uran systems. The number of missile launchers will increase from 6 to 16. The Titanit radar locator, which is used for detecting surface targets, will be replaced with the Mineral modern station KRS-27. Besides, a new-generation artillery system AK-176MA will be mounted on the ships.

"The ships' combat potential and the detection range will increase more than three times," the Russian deputy defense minister said.

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