Russian Navy to commission sixth Buyan-M corvette Vyshny Volochyok this month

The Russian Navy is scheduled to commission its sixth Project 21631 corvette ‘Vyshny Volochyok’ by the end of this month, the Russian defense ministry announced on Tuesday.

Vyshny Volochyok is part of the Buyan-M class of corvettes, an upgraded version of the three Project 21630 (Buyan) vessels which were built for Russia’s Caspian Fleet between 2004 and 2012.

Vyshny Volochyok is currently in the final stage of state trials in the city of Novorossiysk and is to be commissioned by the Russian Navy this month.

The corvette will become the first in its class to join the Black Sea fleet.

The upgraded Project 21631 small missile ships have increased displacement and armament which includes the Russian long-range cruise missile system Kalibr-NK. They are built at the Zelenodolsk Shipyard under a contract signed in 2010.

According to the Russian Navy, the Buyan-M corvettes displace about 1,000 tons, reach a maximum speed of 23 knots and have a crew of over 50 sailors.