Balzam class (Project 1826) intelligence ship

Balzam class, also reported as Project 1826 Rubidiy and NATO Balzam, is a Soviet intelligence-collection ship class built by Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad for SIGINT and communications interception. RussianShips lists four completed hulls, 105 m length, 4,600-ton full-load displacement, 20 knots, and a defensive fit of Strela-2 missiles, AK-630, and an MRG-1 grenade launcher.

Various ConflictsUnspecified

Balzam class (Project 1826) intelligence ship, Intelligence collection ship, Naval Systems

Image source: Balzam-class general intelligence collector ship - Ocean Sarafi 85 - DN-ST-86-02554.JPEG

Profile

Origin: Soviet Union
Built by: Yantar Shipyard
Type: Intelligence collection ship
Produced: 1980-1987
Number built: 4 completed

Also Known As

Project 1826
Project 1826 Rubidiy
Balzam class
Bal'zam class
Lira class
Balzam-class intelligence ship
Balzam-class intelligence collection ship
NATO: Balzam

naval surveillance sigint communications electronic warfare reconnaissance

Specifications

Displacement: 3,100 t standard; 4,600 t full load
Length: 105 m
Beam: 15.5 m
Draft: 5.6 m
Speed: 20 kn
Range: 10,000 nmi at 14 kn; 7,000 nmi at 16 kn
Autonomy: 60 days
Propulsion: 2 x 4,500 hp 58E diesels, 2 fixed-pitch propellers, 4 x 630 kW diesel generators
Armament: 2 x 4 9K32 Strela-2 SAM launchers; 1 x 6-barrel 30 mm AK-630; 1 x 7 55 mm MRG-1 grenade launcher
Electronics: Volga navigation radar, MG-349 Ros-K sonar, MG-13 underwater communication system, MG-7 Braslet anti-saboteur sonar, and Prokhlada/Buksir-N/Rotor-N/Oktava/Pamyat intelligence electronics

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: RussianShips lists four commissioned hulls between 1980 and 1987, split between the Northern Fleet and Pacific Fleet, with Pribaltika later reported off Hawaii during RIMPAC 2016.
Used by: Soviet Navy, Russian Navy

Conflict Usage

Side: Unspecified

No reliable open-source evidence found tying the Balzam class to a named armed conflict. Sources identify it as a Soviet/Russian SIGINT/COMINT intelligence ship class and document monitoring of exercises such as RIMPAC 2016, but exercises are not armed conflicts.

Timeline

Balzam class (Project 1826) intelligence ship Key Events

Feb 9, 1980
Lead ship commissioned
RussianShips lists the lead ship Lira as commissioned on 9 February 1980, marking the start of the Balzam class in service.
Sources: Project 1826 Rubidiy / Balzam Class
Feb 7, 1987
Final hull commissioned
RussianShips lists Belomorye as commissioned on 7 February 1987, completing the four-ship class.
Sources: Project 1826 Rubidiy / Balzam Class
Jul 6, 2016
Reported off Hawaii during RIMPAC
USNI News and AP reported a Balzam-class auxiliary general intelligence ship stationed off Hawaii while RIMPAC 2016 was underway.
Sources: Russian Spy Ship Now Off Hawaii, U.S. Navy Protecting Critical Information, Russian spy ship appears off Hawaii ahead of military drills

Balzam class (Project 1826) intelligence ship Images

Balzam class (Project 1826) intelligence ship, Intelligence collection ship, Naval Systems - view 1 — Source: Balzam-class general intelligence collector ship - Ocean Sarafi 85 - DN-ST-86-02553.JPEG

Balzam class (Project 1826) intelligence ship, Intelligence collection ship, Naval Systems - view 2 — Source: Soviet Balzam SIGINT ship SSV-516.JPEG

Balzam class (Project 1826) intelligence ship, Intelligence collection ship, Naval Systems - view 3 — Source: Soviet Balzam class near Hawaii in 1991.JPEG

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Sources

Project 1826 Rubidiy / Balzam ClassPublisher: RussianShips.info | Note: Supports the Project 1826 / Balzam / Rubidiy naming, Yantar Shipyard builder, four completed hulls, class dimensions, propulsion, armament, electronics, complement, and fleet assignments. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Russian Spy Ship Now Off Hawaii, U.S. Navy Protecting Critical InformationPublisher: USNI News | Note: Supports the Bal'zam-class auxiliary general intelligence ship identification and the RIMPAC 2016 off-Hawaii operating context. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Russian spy ship appears off Hawaii ahead of military drillsPublisher: AP News | Note: Supports the Balzam-class auxiliary general intelligence ship identification and the Hawaii operating context during RIMPAC 2016. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Balzam-class general intelligence collector ship - Ocean Sarafi 85 - DN-ST-86-02554.JPEGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain context for the primary Balzam-class photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Balzam-class general intelligence collector ship - Ocean Sarafi 85 - DN-ST-86-02553.JPEGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain context for a second Balzam-class photo from Ocean Safari 85. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Soviet Balzam SIGINT ship SSV-516.JPEGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain context for the SSV-516 Balzam-class image. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Soviet Balzam class near Hawaii in 1991.JPEGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain context for the Balzam-class Hawaii image. | Accessed: 2026-06-25