A closely watched return passage has drawn fresh attention to a strategic strait and the unresolved dispute shadowing relations between Tokyo and Moscow.
Four Russian Project 12411M Molniya-1 missile boats passed near Japan’s territorial waters. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted the vessels near Cape Soya on the island of Hokkaido as they headed west.
According to the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the boats were approximately 40 kilometers off the coast and did not enter Japanese territorial waters.
A P-3C patrol aircraft assigned to the 2nd Air Wing of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force monitored the Russian vessels and gathered intelligence.
Which Russian boats were spotted near Hokkaido
The Japanese military identified the four missile boats by their hull numbers:
The same vessels had previously been spotted on August 9, approximately 70 kilometers northwest of Rebun Island. At the time, they passed eastward through the Soya Strait. Their latest westward movement marked their return passage through the area.
The vessels’ passage and Putin’s visit to Iturup
The Russian boats returned against the backdrop of Vladimir Putin’s August 13 visit to Iturup Island. The Soviet Union occupied the island in 1945, violating the non-aggression pact it had signed with Japan.
Moscow considers the Kuril archipelago a strategically important area and continues to expand its military presence there. In particular, the Burevestnik military airfield is located on Iturup.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Putin’s visit was completely unacceptable and contradicted Tokyo’s unwavering position on the Northern Territories.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev and lodged a strong protest. The diplomat was also asked to convey Japan’s position to the Russian government immediately.
Features of Project 12411M Molniya-1 missile boats
The Project 12411M Molniya-1 missile boats, designated Tarantul III by NATO, were developed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau. The first vessel of this type entered service in 1981.
The boats were designed to engage surface targets in coastal and near-sea zones. One of the main differences from earlier versions of Project 1241 was the installation of four 3M80 Moskit supersonic anti-ship missiles instead of P-15 Termit missiles.
Key specifications of the boats:
standard displacement – 436 tonnes, full displacement – 493 tonnes;
length – 56.1 meters;
beam – 10.2 meters;
maximum speed – up to 41 knots;
range – 1,600 nautical miles at a speed of 14 knots;
endurance – up to 10 days;
crew – 40.
The vessels’ armament includes:
two twin KT-152 launchers for four 3M80 Moskit anti-ship missiles;
one 76 mm AK-176M naval gun;
two six-barrel 30 mm AK-630M close-in weapon systems;
an air defense system armed with Igla-1 missiles.
Which fleet the identified vessels belong to
All four missile boats spotted near Japan serve with Russia’s Pacific Fleet:
R-298, hull number 971 – in service with the fleet since 1990;
R-19, hull number 978 – since 1992;
R-24, hull number 946 – since 1994;
R-29, hull number 916 – since 2003.
Japanese forces continue to monitor the movements of Russian warships near Hokkaido and the Soya Strait, paying particular attention to compliance with the boundaries of Japan’s territorial waters.
AloJapan.com