Naval Systems

Alexandrit class / Project 12700

Also known as
  • Project 12700
  • Project 12700 Alexandrit
  • Alexandrit-class minesweeper
  • Aleksandr Obukhov-class minesweeper

The Alexandrit class, Russian Project 12700, is a Russian mine-countermeasures vessel class designed by Almaz and built by Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard for the Russian Navy. The class combines a monolithic fiberglass vacuum-infusion hull with trawls and unmanned mine-hunting vehicles, and it entered the Russia-Ukraine war record when Ukrainian intelligence said it disabled the Baltic Fleet lead ship Aleksandr Obukhov at Baltiysk in October 2024.

Alexandrit class / Project 12700, Coastal mine countermeasures vessel, Naval Systems
Image source: Wikimedia Commons: Aleksandr Obukhov

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Type
Coastal mine countermeasures vessel
Service note
2016-present
Designer
Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau
Produced
2011-present

Specifications

Displacement
About 890 tons full load
Length
About 62 m
Beam
About 10 m
Draft
About 3 m, depending on source and configuration
Speed
About 16 knots
Range
About 1,500-1,600 nautical miles in export and general references
Endurance
10 days
Crew
44
Hull
Monolithic fiberglass hull formed by vacuum infusion
Mine-countermeasures fit
Trawls plus remotely operated and autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles
Armament
30 mm AK-306 gun mount, heavy-machine-gun mount, and short-range MANPADS fit reported in open references
Production base
Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard, Saint Petersburg
Mine-Countermeasures Design

Project 12700 is built around stand-off mine countermeasures rather than heavy ship-to-ship armament. Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard describes the class as detecting sea mines in the water column and seabed without entering the danger area, using trawls as well as remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.

Hull concept

The monolithic fiberglass hull is formed by vacuum infusion, cutting magnetic signature and weight compared with metal mine-warfare hulls.

Mine warfare fit

Published shipyard descriptions emphasize trawls plus teleoperated and autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles for mine search and disposal.

Production role

Russian reporting in 2025 described continuing serial production for all Russian fleets and the Caspian Flotilla, with equipment improvements during the series.

Sources: Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard: Georgiy Kurbatov launch; Two to three dozen minesweepers for Russian Navy to be built in St. Petersburg.

Variants

The public Project 12700 record covers the Russian Navy Alexandrit-series ships; export marketing uses the Project 12701 / Alexandrit-E designation for a closely related mine-countermeasures vessel.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Project 12701 / Alexandrit-EExport mine-countermeasures variant

Rosoboronexport describes Project 12701 as an Alexandrit-E counter-mine vessel with Alexandrit-ISPUM, Diez-E, sweeps, AK-306 armament, 890-ton full-load displacement, 61.6 m length, 1,500-mile range, and 10-day endurance; Baird Maritime describes it as an export-only Project 12700-family variant with a vacuum-infused FRP hull.

Sources: Rosoboronexport: Project 12701, Baird Maritime: Project 12701 export-only minesweeper

Onboard Sensors

The Project 12700 electronics fit includes the Anapa anti-saboteur sonar.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
MG-757 Anapa-M anti-saboteur sonar, Anti-saboteur sonar, Naval SystemsMG-757 Anapa-M anti-saboteur sonarAnti-saboteur sonar

RussianShips.info lists the Anapa anti-saboteur sonar among the Alexandrit-class electronics fit.

Sources: Project 12700 - RussianShips.info

Carried USVs

Project 12700 sea-trial and delivery coverage ties the class to the Inspector Mk2 mine countermeasures USV.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Inspector Mk2 Mine Countermeasures USV, Mine countermeasures unmanned surface vehicle, Naval SystemsInspector Mk2 Mine Countermeasures USVMine countermeasures USV

Army Recognition says the first Project 12700 MCM vessel Alexander Obukhov sailed during sea trials with an Inspector Mk 2, and that ECA Group delivered a second USV inspection system to Russia for Project 12700.

Sources: ECA Group Delivers Second USV Inspection System to Russia for Project 12700 MCM Vessel

Timeline

Alexandrit class / Project 12700 Key Events

  1. Lead ship laid down

    Aleksandr Obukhov, the lead ship of Project 12700, was laid down at Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard in Saint Petersburg.

    Sources: Project 12700 - RussianShips.info

  2. First ship entered service

    Aleksandr Obukhov was accepted into service with the Russian Navy.

    Sources: Project 12700 - RussianShips.info

  3. Baltic Fleet minesweeper reported damaged

    Ukraine's GUR said the Baltic Fleet's Alexandrit-class minesweeper Aleksandr Obukhov was disabled in Baltiysk after water entered the engine through damage to the gas exhaust path.

    Sources: Ukraine Claims to Have Damaged a Russian Minesweeper in the Baltic Sea, LIGA.net: GUR damaged Russian ship Alexander Obukhov

  4. Further serial production described

    TASS reported Russian Navy statements that at least two to three dozen more Project 12700 minesweepers were planned, with continued equipment improvements during serial production.

    Sources: Two to three dozen minesweepers for Russian Navy to be built in St. Petersburg

Media

Alexandrit class / Project 12700 Videos

Alexandrit class / Project 12700 Images

Alexandrit class / Project 12700, Coastal mine countermeasures vessel, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons: St Petersburg 2018 Navy Day minesweeper Aleksandr Obukhov
Alexandrit class / Project 12700, Coastal mine countermeasures vessel, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons: Aleksandr Obukhov
Related Weapon Systems
Project 10750 Sapfir / Lida-class inshore minesweeper, Inshore minesweeper class, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsProject 10750 Sapfir / Lida-class inshore minesweeperInshore minesweeper classProject 10750 Sapfir, known to NATO as the Lida class, is a Soviet and Russian inshore mine-countermeasures vessel class built for mine clearance in port approaches, naval-base waters, coastal shallows, and rivers. The design combines a fiberglass hull, mine-search sonar, sweep and mine-destruction gear, a 30 mm AK-306 gun, and an Igla-1 self-defense missile fit; RT-233's 2023-2024 fleet movement gives the class a sourced but limited 2014 Russia-Ukraine War connection rather than confirmed combat-loss evidence.
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Sources

Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard: Georgiy Kurbatov launchPublisher: Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard | Note: Supports Almaz design attribution, mine-countermeasure role, monolithic fiberglass hull construction, vacuum infusion method, and published ship characteristics. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Project 12700 - RussianShips.infoPublisher: RussianShips.info | Note: Supports class identity, Russian Navy service entry, and additional technical characteristics. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Ukraine Claims to Have Damaged a Russian Minesweeper in the Baltic SeaPublisher: The Maritime Executive | Note: Supports the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War conflict-use claim that Ukraine's GUR said it damaged the Baltic Fleet Alexandrit-class minesweeper Aleksandr Obukhov in Baltiysk. | Accessed: 2026-07-04LIGA.net: GUR damaged Russian ship Alexander ObukhovPublisher: LIGA.net | Note: Supports the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War conflict-use claim that Ukraine's GUR reported disabling the Russian Baltic Fleet Project 12700 minesweeper Aleksandr Obukhov at Baltiysk. | Accessed: 2026-07-04ECA Group Delivers Second USV Inspection System to Russia for Project 12700 MCM VesselPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports the Project 12700 relationship with the Inspector Mk 2 during sea trials and the reported delivery of a second inspection system to Russia. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Two to three dozen minesweepers for Russian Navy to be built in St. PetersburgPublisher: TASS | Note: Supports Project 12700 development attribution, mine-countermeasures role, core characteristics, fiberglass hull context, and continued serial-production plans. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Rosoboronexport: Project 12701Publisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Supports Project 12701 / Alexandrit-E export-variant identity, mine-countermeasures fit, AK-306 armament, and core published characteristics. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Baird Maritime: Project 12701 export-only minesweeperPublisher: Baird Maritime | Note: Supports Project 12701 as an export-only Alexandrit-family variant and describes its vacuum-infused FRP hull relationship to Project 12700. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons: Aleksandr ObukhovPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 4.0 licensing context for the primary image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons: St Petersburg 2018 Navy Day minesweeper Aleksandr ObukhovPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 4.0 licensing context for a second gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons: Tralshchik Aleksandr ObukhovPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 4.0 licensing context for a third gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04