[2] The boats are designed for patrolling, search and rescue operations, and the transfer of troops in the coastal zone of the seas, straits and river estuaries at a maximum distance of up to 160 kilometres (100 mi) from the base.

Main goals: patrolling the water area; assistance to the forces of the FSB in the protection of the state border of Russia; defense of naval bases; ensuring the safety of ships on unprotected roadsteads; detection, interception, and detention of small targets; high-speed delivery of groups (up to 20 people) with weapons, gear, and equipment; ensuring the actions of special purpose units; rescue of people in the areas of duty; search and rescue operations.

The bridge with two crew workstations and controls is shifted to the bow of the boat, it has armor protection of classes 5 and 5a, the windows are made of bullet-resistant glass 39 mm (1.5 in) thick.

The engine room is located aft of the vessel; according to the manufacturer, it is equipped with two American 6-cylinder Caterpillar C18 ACERT E-rating turbo diesels 860 kW (1,150 hp) at 2300 rpm, 18.1 litres (1,100 in3) displacement, cylinder block configuration - L6, then there is a so-called clutch mechanism, followed by a shaft line (motor - coupling - propeller shaft) for the English "Rolls-Royce" Kamewa 36A3 HS jet propellers.

[4] In 2022 it was reported that the Pella Shipyard had designed a new so-called "2.0" version of the Raptor incorporating Russian engines with a total capacity of 1678 kW as well as two guided missile launchers, laser detection, and a passive jamming system.

The missiles, described to be at "a preliminary testing stage", were reportedly designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (potentially of the type that have been used to attack other vessels of the class during the Ukraine War).

Tests of these boats began in December 2014, and on 5 March 2015, they were accepted into the Russian Black Sea Fleet in a detachment of anti-sabotage forces and assets of the Novorossiysk naval base.

[14] On 2 May 2022, Ukraine provided visual evidence that its Bayraktar TB2 drones destroyed two Raptor-class boats near Snake (Zmiinyi) Island that morning.

[16][2] By 9 May 2022, Raptor total losses amounted to 5, leaving 3 operational with the Black Sea Fleet from a pre-war estimate of 8 units.