Project 1239 Sivuch-class (Bora)

Project 1239 Sivuch, designated by NATO as the Dergach-class and also known as the Bora-class, is a series of hoverborne guided-missile corvettes. The class was designed in 1988 at the Zelenodolsk Gorky Plant under Chief Designer L. Elssky. Developed for coastal defense and patrol duties against surface vessels, it is one of the few surface effect ship designs built specifically for marine combat rather than transport or troop landing.

The design utilizes a catamaran configuration. To achieve hover capability, the vessel employs auxiliary diesel engines to drive superchargers that inflate the skirts. The propulsion system consists of gas turbine engines and reduction gear diesel engines. The class is configured for combat operations in conditions up to Sea State 5. The onboard sensor suite includes target detection and designation radar, air and surface search radar, fire control radar, and sonar. Electronic warfare capabilities include an interceptor suite and decoy rocket launchers. Armament includes P-270 Moskit anti-ship missiles, the Osa-MA surface-to-air missile system, an automatic cannon, Gatling cannons, Igla man-portable surface-to-air missiles, naval machine gun mounts, and an anti-saboteur grenade launcher.

Construction of the class took place between 1987 and 2000 at the Zelenodolsk Gorky Plant. Two vessels were completed and assigned to the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The lead ship, Bora (formerly MRK-27), entered service in 1989. The second vessel, Samum (formerly MRK-17), was commissioned in 2000. In September 2023, Samum was reported damaged by a drone strike during the Russo-Ukraine War. By 2024, both corvettes were reported active and had relocated from Crimea to the eastern Black Sea.