GlobalMilitary.net Open-source military intelligence Updated daily

Grachonok-class (Project 21980)

Summary

Origin country 🇷🇺 Russia
Category Patrol vessel
SubtypeAnti-saboteur boat
ManufacturerZelenodolsk Shipyard
Year commissioned2009
Units 600 Yunarmeets Kaspiya
601 Yunarmeets Tatarstana
602 Yunarmeets Dagestana
651 P-468
652 Vladimir Nosov
689 Nakhimovets
695 P-474
836 Yunarmeets Kryma
837 Kinel
840 Kadet
841 Suvorovets
842 Kursant Kirovets
844 Pavel Silaev
936 Sergey Preminin
938 Yunarmeets Zapolyarya
939 Yunarmeets Belomorya
941 Valery Fedyanin
969 Yunarmeets Sakhalina
973 P-445
994 Yunarmeets Chukotki
996 P-377
997 Yunarmeets Primorya
998 Yunarmeets Kamchatki
P-475 Denis Vasilchenko

Operators

🇷🇺 Russia

Technical specifications

Displacement138 tons
Endurance5 days
Crew8 members
Width7.4 m (24.3 ft)
Length31.04 m (101.8 ft)
Propulsion

2 × MTU / MWM-Deutz TBD620V12 or Zvezda ZE / Kolomna diesel engines

Armament
  • 1 × 14.5 mm MTPU machine gun
  • 1 × DP-64 anti-sabotage grenade launcher
  • 1 × DP-65 remotely-controlled rocket grenade launcher system
  • 1 × Igla MANPADS (4 missiles)
Maximum speed23 knots

Description

Project 21980 Grachonok is a class of anti-saboteur and guard boats built for the Russian Navy and the National Guard of Russia. Developed to secure naval bases and assist the FSB Border Service of Russia in state border protection, the class entered production in 2008 at the Zelenodolsk Shipyard. Production was subsequently expanded to the Vympel Shipyard and Vostochnaya Verf. The first vessel entered service in 2009, and construction has continued with subsequent orders, including a 2017 procurement of four boats for the National Guard and an August 2024 contract for additional navy vessels.

The class is designed to detect and combat underwater sabotage forces and conventional threats in the waters immediately surrounding naval bases and their approaches. To perform these tasks, the vessels are equipped with navigational radar, optoelectronic television monitoring systems, and both hull-mounted and towed sonar systems designed for anti-saboteur detection. Standard armament consists of a heavy machine gun, manual and remotely-controlled grenade launchers, and man-portable air-defense systems. Propulsion is provided by twin diesel engines driving two shafts.

Grachonok-class boats are deployed across the Baltic Fleet, Black Sea Fleet, Northern Fleet, Pacific Fleet, and the Caspian Flotilla. The National Guard of Russia operates its units in the Black Sea, where they are designated for the protection of the Crimean Bridge.

During the Russo-Ukrainian War, several vessels of the class were involved in active operations and sustained damage. In August 2023, the Black Sea Fleet vessel P-349 Suvorovets was reportedly damaged during a drone attack near the port of Novorossiysk. On approximately 18 April 2026, a drone attack conducted by the Ukrainian Alpha Group in occupied Crimea likely damaged another Grachonok-class boat. In other regional deployments, the Black Sea Fleet vessel P-191 Kadet operated in the Mediterranean Sea, where it was stationed at the Tartus naval base in Syria.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of ship is the Grachonok-class?
The Grachonok-class is a patrol vessel (Anti-saboteur boat) built by Russia.
What is the displacement of the Grachonok-class?
The Grachonok-class has a displacement of 138 tons.
What is the maximum speed of the Grachonok-class?
The Grachonok-class has a maximum speed of 23 knots (42 km/h).
How many crew members serve on the Grachonok-class?
The Grachonok-class has a crew complement of 8 personnel.
How many Grachonok-class ships have been built?
28 vessels of the Grachonok-class have been built.
Which countries operate the Grachonok-class?
The Grachonok-class is operated by Russia.
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources. Last updated on 24 July 2026. Suggest a change