New Russian missile boat starts caspian trials

A new attack missile boat has started sea trials with Russia’s Caspian Flotilla, the Southern Military District has said. The Grad Sviyazhsk missile corvette is due to join the flotilla after completing all trials and state tests before the end of the year, RIA Novosti reported. The Project 21631 (Buyan-M) corvette has a displacement of 949 tons and maximum speed of 25 knots. It is armed with Kalibr (SS-N-27) anti-ship missiles, 100-mm and 30-mm guns, as well as Igla-1M air defense missiles. In addition to the Grad Sviyazhsk, the Caspian Flotilla will also take delivery of an Uglich missile corvette, a Grachonok-class high-speed patrol boat, several Serna-class landing craft, and three tugboats in the near future, the strategic command’s press service said in March. The Serna-class landing craft can carry either one tank or two infantry fighting vehicles (or armored personnel carriers), or a 92-man landing party. The Caspian Flotilla already has several Serna-class vessels, the navy confirmed earlier, without giving a specific figure.