VYMPEL BOATS: FIREPOWER, SPEED AND EFFECTIVENESS

Today, Vympel's trademark is well known to both Russian and foreign clients as the company lives up to its credo to promptly respond to and fully meet customers’ requirements.

When Russia began the ongoing process of transforming its economy, the Rybinsk Shipyard acquired the status of a joint stock company, named Vympel. Although the shipyard's legal status changed, its major lines of business remained intact and the quality of its manufactured products and relations with partners and clients were not affected by the changes.

Naturally, much has changed at Vympel since the date of its foundation, with one major exception: the shipyard's main line of business. It continues to produce boats for the Russian Navy and for export.

The missile boats of Projects 205 and 1241RE, that slipped off Vympel's construction ways were highly rated by their operators in naval and coast guard units throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.

Presently, Vympel builds third-generation missile boats, dubbed Molniya (Project 12421). These missile boats are intended to destroy surface fighting ships, transports and landing ships in coastal zones and out at sea.

The main advantage of Molniya missile boats is in their strike missile system with four Moskit supersonic missiles. Moskit outperforms similar missile systems used elsewhere in the world.

To launch the missiles and control them during flight, each boat is equipped with a modern active/passive radar system, designated Garpun-Bal. The radar system can detect several targets at a time and supply target designation data to the firecontrol system. It can also be used for navigation purposes.

Each missile boat's artillery armament comprises one 76.2mm 

AK-176M automatic gun mount and two 30mm AK-630M automatic gun mounts.

The missile boat is also armed with 12 Igla man-portable AD missile systems that can engage air targets flying at altitudes from 10 to 3,500 meters and at a range of up to 5 kilometers.

For protection against antiship weapons operating on different guidance principles, the boat is armed with two PK-10 short-range passive jamming system decoy launchers and one MP405-1 active/passive EW system featuring high jamming immunity.

Molniyas are powered by gas-turbine power plants, comprising two cruise turbines and two full-speed turbines. This highly reliable power plant allows the boat to attain a speed of up to 38 knots in tropical conditions. 

The Vympel company offers Russian and foreign customers various types of vessels, including the Mirage and Mangust patrol boats. The hulls of these patrol boats are made from aluminum-magnesium alloy, considerably reducing their weight. The 34-meter-long Mirage features up-to-date hull contours and has a displacement of about 120 tons. It is intended to protect economic zones and territorial waters, support operation of maritime check-points (examination of vessels, performance of customs and police operations, etc.), combat drug-trafficking, smugglers and saboteurs.
The modern system of automatically controlled interceptors radically increases the boat's efficiency, enabling it to develop a speed of up to 50 knots and decrease pitch and roll motions nearly twofold, a key factor for delivering accurate fire and providing normal conditions for the crew when the sea is rough.

A wide array of the armament and thermal imaging and night vision devices enable the boat to effectively perform a variety of missions. Mirage can also be armed with the Shturm missile system firing the Ataka missiles, eight Igla man-portable AD missile systems, one 30mm AK-306 automatic gun mount, two 14.5mm light machine guns and hand-held grenade launchers. The weapons suite can be chosen by the customer.

Although a 19-meter-long Mangust patrol boat is smaller in size and displaces only 26 tons, it demonstrates high efficiency in its class.

Two diesels developing a total power of 1,980 kW and the ARNESON propulsors enable the boat to develop a speed of up to 53 knots.
To counter air threats and defend itself, a 14.5mm fixed machine gun mount is installed on the boat.

Upon customer’s request, the boat can be armed with the Igla man-portable AD missile system, DP-64 anti-saboteur grenade launcher and AGS-17 grenade launcher.

Today, Vympel's trademark is well known to both Russian and foreign clients as the company lives up to its credo to promptly respond to and fully meet customers’ requirements.