Osa-class

The Project 205 Moskit, designated Osa by NATO, was developed for the Soviet Navy in the late 1950s as a successor to the Project 183R class. Known in Soviet service as large missile cutters, these vessels were designed to improve upon the sea-keeping, endurance, and habitability of previous missile boat designs.

The design consists of a steel hull and a light alloy superstructure. The deck is continuous with rounded edges to facilitate the removal of radioactive contamination. Propulsion is provided by diesel engines. Primary armament is protected by enclosed launchers to prevent damage from environmental conditions, a design change from the open launchers used on earlier classes. Defensive equipment includes unmanned gun turrets and fire-control radars. The Project 205U variant introduced upgraded engines and surface-to-air missiles for air defense.

The class was exported to numerous navies in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Indian Navy units were used during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in Operations Trident and Python against port facilities and naval shipping. Egyptian and Syrian vessels were engaged during the Yom Kippur War at the Battle of Latakia and the Battle of Baltim. Iraqi units saw service during the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War. Syrian vessels were active during the Syrian Civil War, with several units destroyed by Israeli strikes in December 2024. Most Soviet units were retired by 1990, though variants remain in service with various international operators.