Russian corvette Stoikiy to conduct missile firing exercise in Baltic Sea - Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW - The Russian corvette Stoikiy will conduct a missile firing exercise in the Baltic Sea early next week, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The crew of the Stoikiy corvette will train actions during a sea firing at above-water and sea based targets in the Black Sea, navy sailors will conduct a missile firing exercise using the Uran attack anti-ship missile system during it," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, the firing exercise is slated for January 28. In addition, the corvette's crew will also train striking air-based targets simulating anti-ship missiles using the Redut surface-to-air missile system.

The Uran anti-ship cruise missile is intended for striking fast naval surface vessels operating independently or as part of convoys and landing parties at day and night, in different weather, under electronic countermeasures and fire resistance.

On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry's national defense management center told Interfax that the Boiky and Soobrazitelny corvettes were tracking USS Porter and Gravely that entered the Baltic Sea. The U.S. destroyers are equipped with the Aegis missile defense system and can carry up to 56 Tomahawk cruise missiles.