Naval Systems

BK-18 high-speed landing / assault craft (Project 02511)

Also known as
  • BK-18
  • Project 02511
  • Type BK-18
  • Project 02511 BK-18
  • BK-18 landing craft
  • BK-18 assault boat

The BK-18 high-speed landing / assault craft (Project 02511) is an enlarged Russian BK-series combat boat built by Rybinsk Shipyard for Kalashnikov Concern. Public references describe a 25-ton, 18.6-meter craft with pump-jet propulsion, a 40-knot top speed, 3 crew, and space for 19 embarked personnel; Russian Black Sea Fleet reporting places BK-18-type boats in anti-sabotage and base-protection duties connected to Tartus, Syria.

BK-18 high-speed landing / assault craft (Project 02511), High-speed landing / assault craft, Naval Systems
Image source: Kalashnikov Pr.02510 BK-16 & BK-18 Assault Boats - Russia #758

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Type
High-speed landing / assault craft
Service note
2017-present
Produced
2017
Number built
At least 2 reported in 2017

Specifications

Full load displacement
25 tons
Empty displacement
19 tons
Length
18.6 m
Beam
4.55 m
Draft
0.8 m
Speed
40 knots
Range
400 nmi at 26 knots
Autonomy
2 days
Propulsion
2 x 1,300 hp diesels, 2 pump-jets
Complement
3 crew + 19 passengers
Hull material
AMg aluminum-magnesium alloy
Armament
None listed in the reference source
Design And Service Context

The useful distinction is that BK-18 is not just another label for BK-16. Public references describe it as a larger Project 02511 craft within the same Kalashnikov/Rybinsk BK boat line.

TopicSource-backed contextReader note
Family positionKalashnikov says Rybinsk Shipyard released BK-16 and BK-18 variants inside its BK combat-boat line.Use BK-18 as a related but larger family member, not as a BK-16 synonym.
Size and layoutRussianShips and Sdelanounas list BK-18 at 18.6 m long, 4.55 m beam, 25 t full load, and 3 crew plus 19 carried personnel.The craft is roughly the troop-carrying class of a small special-purpose landing boat.
Published distinction from BK-16Versia describes BK-18 as larger than BK-16 and notes the absence of the narrow side windows visible on BK-16.The visual distinction helps separate photo identifications from adjacent BK-series boats.
Operational limitThe strongest direct conflict-use source found places BK-18-type boats in Tartus base-protection duties; Ukraine-war reporting found during this pass named BK-16 or Raptor boats instead.The conflict row is kept narrow to sourced Syria support duties rather than inferred Black Sea combat use.

Sources: Rybinsk Shipyard: from Admiralskiy Crew's Launches to BK speedboats; Anti-saboteur boat - Type BK-18; New Project BK-18 craft appeared in Crimea; Kalashnikov element: land, water and sky; Modern state of the Black Sea Fleet.

Variants

Open sources treat the BK-18 as the larger Project 02511 member of Kalashnikov's BK combat-boat family, adjacent to the BK-16 / Project 02510 assault and landing craft.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
BK-16 high-speed assault / landing craft (Project 02510), High-speed assault and landing craft, Naval SystemsBK-16 high-speed assault / landing craft (Project 02510)Smaller BK family assault and landing craft

Versia describes BK-18 as appearing after serial BK-16 production and distinguishes it as larger, longer, and visually different from BK-16.

Sources: Kalashnikov element: land, water and sky

Timeline

BK-18 high-speed landing / assault craft (Project 02511) Key Events

  1. BK-18 craft appear in Crimean waters

    Sdelanounas reported two new Project BK-18 craft built by Rybinsk Shipyard and listed the 18.6 m, 25-ton specification set that matches later reference entries.

    Sources: New Project BK-18 craft appeared in Crimea

  2. Black Sea Fleet context reported

    VPK.name, republishing bmpd material, reported that two larger BK-18 craft built by Rybinsk Shipyard were already on the Black Sea in 2017.

    Sources: Northern Fleet received two BK-16 type boats

  3. Tartus base-protection role reported

    ANNA News listed two BK-18 type boats among Black Sea Fleet anti-sabotage forces and said those boats were used to protect the Russian naval base in Tartus.

    Sources: Modern state of the Black Sea Fleet

  4. Kalashnikov article places BK-18 in the BK family

    Kalashnikov's anniversary article says BK-16 and BK-18 variants were produced in the BK combat-boat line at Rybinsk Shipyard, giving the craft's family context.

    Sources: Rybinsk Shipyard: from Admiralskiy Crew's Launches to BK speedboats

Media

BK-18 high-speed landing / assault craft (Project 02511) Images

BK-18 high-speed landing / assault craft (Project 02511), High-speed landing / assault craft, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: Kalashnikov Pr.02510 BK-16 & BK-18 Assault Boats - Russia #758
Related Weapon Systems
BK-16 high-speed assault / landing craft (Project 02510), High-speed assault and landing craft, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsBK-16 high-speed assault / landing craft (Project 02510)High-speed assault and landing craftThe BK-16 is a Russian high-speed assault and landing craft of Project 02510, developed by Kalashnikov Concern's Rybinsk Shipyard for coastal, river-mouth, and unequipped-shore operations. Public sources distinguish domestic Project 02510 craft from the BK-16E export model, with both centered on troop transport, landing support, patrol, and modular fire-support or specialist mission fits; Russian craft are documented in wartime use or losses in the Black Sea and occupied Crimea during the Russia-Ukraine war.
BK-10 family high-speed assault boats, High-speed transport-assault rigid inflatable boat family, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsBK-10 family high-speed assault boatsHigh-speed transport-assault rigid inflatable boat familyThe BK-10 family is a Russian line of high-speed assault boats developed by Rybinsk Shipyard under Kalashnikov Concern for littoral transport, shore landing, patrol, and fire-support missions. The family centers on the 10-person BK-10 baseline and extends to larger BK-10M, BK-10M1, and BK-10D/DE variants; Russian-source reporting cited in 2024 placed BK-10 boats in Black Sea force-protection tasks against Ukrainian unmanned surface and landing threats.
Grachonok-class anti-sabotage patrol boat (Project 21980), Anti-sabotage patrol boat, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsGrachonok-class anti-sabotage patrol boat (Project 21980)Anti-sabotage patrol boatThe Grachonok-class anti-sabotage patrol boat, Russian Project 21980, is a small Russian naval security craft designed by KB Vympel and built at several Russian shipyards to protect basing areas, ports, and critical maritime infrastructure. The class combines sonar and electro-optical surveillance with grenade launchers, a 14.5 mm heavy machine gun, and Igla MANPADS, making it a compact diver-hunting and harbor-defense platform.
Dyugon-class landing craft (Project 21820), Air-cavity landing craft, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsDyugon-class landing craft (Project 21820)Air-cavity landing craftThe Dyugon-class landing craft, Project 21820, is a Russian air-cavity fast landing craft developed by the Nizhny Novgorod Central Design Bureau for Hydrofoils as a larger successor to the Serna family. Built across Volga, Vostochnaya Verf, and Yaroslavl shipyards, the class moves tanks, armored vehicles, cargo, or marines to unimproved shores, and Russia used Dyugon craft around Snake Island in 2022 as part of Black Sea logistics and air-defense reinforcement activity.

Sources

Anti-saboteur boat - Type BK-18Publisher: RussianShips.info | Note: Supports the BK-18 Project 02511 designation, Black Sea Fleet connection, completed-unit count caveat, and technical characteristics. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Rybinsk Shipyard: from Admiralskiy Crew's Launches to BK speedboatsPublisher: Kalashnikov Concern | Note: Supports the Rybinsk Shipyard and Kalashnikov Concern context and the fact that BK-16 and BK-18 variants were produced within the BK combat-boat line. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Kalashnikov Pr.02510 BK-16 & BK-18 Assault Boats - Russia #758Publisher: GitHub | Note: Supports image provenance for the BK-16/BK-18 illustration and photo embedded in the issue thread. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Rybinsk shipyard: from the traveling "Admiralsky" to the high-speed "BK"Publisher: VPK.name | Note: Supports the BK boat line background and the statement that BK-16 and BK-18 variants were released by the Rybinsk Shipyard. | Accessed: 2026-07-01New Project BK-18 craft appeared in CrimeaPublisher: Sdelanounas.ru | Note: Supports the 2017 report of two BK-18 craft built by Rybinsk Shipyard in Crimean waters and the published dimensions, displacement, speed, range, and crew figures. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Northern Fleet received two BK-16 type boatsPublisher: VPK.name | Note: Supports the report that two larger BK-18 craft built by Rybinsk Shipyard were on the Black Sea in 2017. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Kalashnikov element: land, water and skyPublisher: Versia | Note: Supports the BK-16/BK-18 family distinction, the larger BK-18 dimensions, and the claim that BK-18 appeared after BK-16 serial production. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Modern state of the Black Sea FleetPublisher: ANNA News | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War fielding: the source lists two BK-18 type boats among Black Sea Fleet anti-sabotage forces and says those boats were used to protect the Russian naval base in Tartus, Syria. | Accessed: 2026-07-01