YANTAR class

 1 (+1) YANTAR-class OCEAN SURVEILLANCE SHIP (AGOS)

 Name     Pendant   Launched       Commissioned   Status
 YANTAR   01602     Dec. 5, 2012   May 23, 2015   Active
 ALMAZ    01604     October 2019   ...            Building

The YANTAR class are Russian oceanographic research and surveillance ships capable of collecting data on underwater targets and recovering objects and materials from the seabed. The YANTAR can also serve as a mothership for deep-water submersibles including the KONSUL class, capable of operating at depths of up to 20,000 ft (6,000 m) according to the U.S. Navy. The ships are believed to include significant research facilities onboard. They are equipped for undersea surveillance, environmental monitoring, search-and-rescue, deep-water infrastructure operations, missile and spacecraft tracking and inspection of aircraft crash or ship sinking sites.

HULL: At full load, the YANTAR displaces 5,858 tons. She measures 353 ft 8 in (107.8 m) in length, with a beam of 56 ft 5 in (17.2 m) and a draft of 19 ft 4 in (5.9 m).
The YANTAR has a specialized submersible hangar aft, atop which a large communications dish is located. Launch and recovery systems for the carried submersibles and remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) are stern and starboard. A small deployable boat is carried to assist in deployment of submersibles and ROVs. A helicopter flight deck is positioned forward.
The ships have a full crew complement of 60.

ENGINEERING: The ships feature a diesel-electric propulsion system consisting of two electric motors, two 1,468-hp (1,080-kW) diesel generators and four 2,176-bhp (1,600-kW) diesel generators. The system produces a total bhp of 17,203 (12,480 kW). Two fixed-pitch propeller Azipod units and two bow thrusters are also fitted for auxiliary propulsion.
The ships can attain a top speed of 15 knots, and reach a maximum range of 8,000 nm (14,800 km).

ARMAMENT: The class' armaments are unknown, and the ships are possibly not equipped with any traditional weaponry. A medium helicopter can be operated from the YANTAR using the forward helipad.

SENSORS/ELECTRONICS: Information on the sensor and electronics package of the ships is limited. The class can handle and operate a variety of ROVs, as well as the manned KONSUL-class deep submergence vehicles, KONSUL and RUS. Cutting gears equipped to these submersibles allow the YANTAR to free submarines or ships tangled in underwater obstacles, or allegedly cut undersea communications cables.

The YANTAR is in service.

YANTAR is deployed with the Northern Fleet and based at Olenya Guba. The ship is operated by the Main Directorate of Underwater Research (GUGI).

The first ship of the class, YANTAR was laid down on July 8, 2010. She was launched on Dec. 5, 2012 and commissioned on May 23, 2015. She arrived at her homeport Olenya Guba on Russia’s Kola Peninsula in October 2015.

The second ship, ALMAZ was laid down on June 9, 2016 and was launched in October 2019.

The ALMAZ is reportedly planned for deployment with the Pacific Fleet once construction is complete.

Almaz Design Bureau, St. Petersburg (design)

Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad (construction)

 CREW
   Total                   60

 DISPLACEMENT
   Full load               5,858 tons

 DIMENSIONS
   Length                  353 ft 8 in (107.8 m)(YANTAR)
                           389 ft 9 in (118.8 m)(ALMAZ)
   Beam                     56 ft 5 in ( 17.2 m)
   Draft                    19 ft 4 in (  5.9 m)

 PROPULSION
   Main                    Diesel-electric:
                           2 x electric motors
                           2 x 1,468-bhp (1,080-kW) diesel generators
                           4 x 2,176-bhp (1,600-kW) diesel generators
      power                17,203 total bhp (12,480 kW)
   Auxiliary               2 x fixed-pitch propeller Azipod units     
                           2 x bow thrusters

 PERFORMANCE
   Speed                   15 knots
   Range                   8,000 nm (14,800 km)

 COMBAT SYSTEMS 
   Helicopter              1 x medium helicopter (YANTAR only)
   Deep submergence vehicles
                           2 x KONSUL class

ALMAZ class

The second ship of this class, ALMAZ features several differences from the YANTAR. The ship is designed to assist in the tracking and monitoring of spacecraft launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur. According to the Almaz Design Bureau, the ship will not carry a helicopter, lacking the forward helipad present on the YANTAR, and is 36 ft (11.0 m) longer.

The YANTAR has been alleged by the U.S. to be a spy vessel used to collect data on undersea infrastructure, particularly underwater communication cables. Russia has disputed this, alternatively labelling the ship an oceanographic research vessel and special purpose ship.

On November 23, 2017, Russian state-owned media source TASS reported that the YANTAR had been diverted from deployment off the coast of West Africa to assist in the search for the missing Argentinian submarine SAN JUAN, which disappeared on Nov. 15. The search was abandoned on Nov. 30, and the boat’s wreckage would not be identified until November 2018.

The YANTAR was spotted off the coast of Ireland, allegedly hovering over offshore undersea cables, the Irish Times reported on Aug. 18, 2021. The Irish Defense Forces confirmed it was monitoring the ship’s deployment to the area.

Norwegian officials claimed the YANTAR had sailed dangerously close to the research vessel KRONPRINS HAAKON in September 2023, according to Norwegian media site NewsInEnglish.no. The ship had reportedly approached the research vessel in waters between Svalbard and Greenland, allegedly following it for 18 hours before departing.

The Russian designation is Project 22010 Kruys.