Naval Systems

Project 22010 (Yantar/Kruys) special-purpose oceanographic intelligence ship

Project 22010, also known as Yantar or Kruys, is a Russian oceanographic intelligence ship built by Yantar Shipyard for the Navy's deep-sea research directorate. The lead ship was launched in 2012 and commissioned in 2015, and UK officials later described it as a spy vessel used to map critical undersea infrastructure.

Profile

Origin
Russia
Built by
Yantar Shipyard
Type
Oceanographic intelligence ship
Service note
2010s-present
Designer
Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau
Produced
2010-2015

Also Known As

  • Yantar
  • Kruys
  • Project 22010
  • Project 22010 Yantar
  • Project 22010 Kruys
  • Project 22010 research vessel
  • Russian research vessel Yantar
  • Russian spy ship Yantar

Specifications

Displacement
About 5,736 tons full load
Length
107.8 m
Beam
17.2 m
Speed
15 kn
Crew
About 60
Propulsion
Diesel-electric with two electric motors, two azimuthal pods, and two bow thrusters

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service
Laid down in July 2010, launched in December 2012, and commissioned in May 2015. The ship is associated with the Northern Fleet base at Severomorsk and with Russia's deep-sea research directorate.
Used by
Russian Navy, Northern Fleet, Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI)

Conflict Usage

Conflict linkage is indirect and gray-zone: during the Russo-Ukrainian War security environment, UK officials said the Project 22010 vessel Yantar was used for intelligence collection and mapping critical seabed infrastructure. This supports use as undersea-infrastructure surveillance/cable-mapping activity, not confirmed direct combat employment in Ukraine.

Timeline

Project 22010 (Yantar/Kruys) special-purpose oceanographic intelligence ship Key Events

  1. Laid down at Yantar Shipyard

    Shipyard Yantar says the Project 22010 vessel was laid down on 8 July 2010 at the Kaliningrad yard.

    Sources: Shipyard Yantar history: Project 22010 Yantar

  2. Launched

    Commons category records the ship's launch in December 2012 before final fitting-out and sea trials.

    Sources: Wikimedia Commons category: Yantar (ship, 2015)

  3. Commissioned into service

    The vessel entered service in May 2015 with the Russian Navy's deep-sea research apparatus.

    Sources: Wikimedia Commons category: Yantar (ship, 2015), Russian Spy Ship Yantar: Queen of the Gray Zone

  4. Tracked in UK waters

    Reuters reported that the Royal Navy tracked Yantar after it entered British waters, amid renewed concern over undersea cable protection.

    Sources: UK monitors Russian spy ship, steps up undersea cable protection

Project 22010 (Yantar/Kruys) special-purpose oceanographic intelligence ship Images

Related Weapon Systems

Vishnya class (Project 864) intelligence ship, Signals intelligence collection ship class, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsVishnya class (Project 864) intelligence shipSignals intelligence collection ship classThe Vishnya class (Project 864), also known as the Meridian class, is a Soviet-designed signals intelligence collection ship class built in Poland for the Soviet and later Russian Navy. The ships are purpose-built SIGINT and COMINT collectors with satellite-link antennas, a modest self-defense fit, and long-endurance blue-water service, while the Priazovye hull was sent into the eastern Mediterranean during the 2013 Syria crisis.

Sources