Karakurt (Project 22800 (Uragan))

The Project 22800 Karakurt-class is a series of Russian small missile ships (corvettes) designed for coastal defense and blue-water operations. These vessels are equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles and Pantsir-M air defense systems, providing significant strike and air defense capabilities.

Designed by the Almaz Design Bureau in the mid-2010s, the Project 22800 class was developed as a more rapidly producible alternative to larger frigates after geopolitical tensions in 2014 halted the supply of Ukrainian gas turbine engines. The lead vessel, Mytishchi, officially entered service with the Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet in December 2018. During the conflict in Ukraine, Black Sea Fleet units of this class were deployed for precision land-attack strikes, with some vessels, such as the Askold, sustaining damage from Ukrainian counter-strikes while in port. Today, construction of the class continues across several domestic shipyards to reinforce Russia's littoral capabilities, serving as a cornerstone of the navy's modern mosquito fleet strategy.