Ovod-1 (Project 1234.1 (Nanuchka III))

The Project 1234.1 Ovod-1, also known by its NATO reporting name Nanuchka III, is a class of small missile corvettes designed for anti-ship warfare. These vessels are armed with anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and a naval gun, providing a potent offensive and defensive capability in coastal waters.

Developed in the mid-1970s as an upgraded variant of the baseline Project 1234, the Project 1234.1 (Nanuchka III) was designed to address defensive vulnerabilities by integrating a more powerful 76mm AK-176 main gun and an AK-630 close-in weapon system. The lead vessel of this modified class entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1977, quickly becoming a staple of Soviet littoral defense fleets. During their operational history, these corvettes were deployed across all major Soviet fleets, with the class gaining notable combat distinction in August 2008 when the Black Sea Fleet's Mirazh engaged and sank Georgian naval vessels during the Russo-Georgian War. Although many units have been decommissioned since the collapse of the Soviet Union, a small number of modernized Project 1234.1 ships continue to serve in the Russian Navy, highlighting the design's robust and heavily armed legacy.