The Soviet designation Project 1241 Molniya () are a class of Russian missile corvettes (large missile cutters in Soviet classification). They have the NATO reporting name Tarantul (not to be confused with the , whose official Soviet name is also Project 205P Tarantul). These ships were designed to replace the Project 205M Tsunami missile cutter (NATO: ). Development In the late 1970s, the Soviets realised the need for a larger, more seaworthy craft with better gun armament and higher positioned air search radars. The need for these improvements was underscored by the First Gulf War, when 12 Iraqi Osa-I-class missile boats were destroyed or damaged by short ranged Sea Skua anti-ship missiles. They were attacked by British Lynx helicopters, but the Osa crews did not notice them because they flew below their radar horizon. In the Tarantul class, both the single main gun and the two Gatling-type guns are used for air defence, together with a comprehensive electronic warfare suite. The boats are built by the Petrovsky yard (St. Petersburg), Rybinsk and Ulis yard (Vladivostok). A version of these ships for coastal anti-submarine warfare and patrol was developed as the or Project 1241.2. The Indian Navy paid approximately $30 million each to license-produce Tarantul-I in the early 1990s. With over 30 sales on the export market the Tarantul has been a relative success for the Russian shipbuilding industry. Versions Project 1241.1 (NATO: Tarantul-II) The naming convention for NATO reporting name Tarantul was a special case here. NATO called the first version of the class as Tarantul-II, given that they had a better sensor suite/equipment than the ships of the following class Tarantul-I, which was produced exclusively for export. First version, based on the Pauk-class hull, though with a significantly increased weight. Equipped with four SS-N-2 'Styx' anti-ship missiles (either the range P-15 'Termit' missile or the later P-20 variant with range) and the associated 'Plank Shave' radar targeting system ( range in active mode of surveillance, range in passive mode, with an added air surveillance capability). One AK–176 76.2 mm main gun and two AK-630 30 mm six-barreled Gatling guns, the latter CIWS system supported by the 'Bass Tilt' targeting radar. Furthermore, there is a Fasta-N SA-N-5 quadruple MANPAD launcher and two PK-16 decoy launchers. Propulsion is a COGOG system (COmbined Gas Or Gas) consisting of two M70 at high power gas turbines with a combined output for full power