Naval Systems

Vishnya class (Project 864) intelligence ship

The 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.

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union
Built by
Stocznia Północna
Built in
Poland
Type
Signals intelligence collection ship class
Service note
1985-present
Produced
1985-1988
Number built
7

Also Known As

  • Project 864
  • Project 864 Meridian class
  • Meridian class
  • Meridian-class intelligence ship
  • Vishnya-class intelligence ship
  • SSV-201 Priazovye

Specifications

Displacement
2,500 t standard / 3,800 t full load
Length
91.5 m
Beam
14.5 m
Draft
5.6 m
Speed
16.5 knots
Range
7,000 nmi
Complement
220
Propulsion
2 x 2,200 hp Sulzer 12AV25/30 diesel engines, 2 x 150 hp electric motors, 2 fixed-pitch propellers
Sensors
MR-212/201 Vaygach-U navigation radar, MG-349 Ros-K sonar, MGP-303 sonar, and ELINT suites
Armament
2 x 4 9K38 Igla SAM launchers and 2 x 6 30 mm AK-306 mounts

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service
Class entered service in 1985 and remains in Russian Navy use.
Used by
Soviet Navy, Russian Navy
Wars
Syrian Civil War, Russia-Ukraine War

Conflict Usage

The Vishnya-class SSV-201 Priazovye was sent from Sevastopol toward the Syrian coast/eastern Mediterranean in 2013 to monitor the situation during heightened tensions over possible Western strikes on Syria. This indicates intelligence-collection employment connected to the Syrian Civil War.

Russia said the Vishnya-class Priazovye was attacked by Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels in June 2023 while patrolling near the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the Black Sea. This supports conflict use as maritime intelligence/security patrol activity.

Timeline

Vishnya class (Project 864) intelligence ship Key Events

  1. Priazovye laid down

    KCHF records Priazovye as being laid down at the Stocznia Polnocna shipyard in Gdansk, Poland.

    Sources: Intelligence Ship Priazovye - Project 864 / Vishnya class

  2. Priazovye launched

    KCHF records the ship's launch on 30 September 1986.

    Sources: Intelligence Ship Priazovye - Project 864 / Vishnya class

  3. Priazovye commissioned

    KCHF records Priazovye's commissioning on 18 May 1987.

    Sources: Intelligence Ship Priazovye - Project 864 / Vishnya class

  4. Electronic intelligence suite modernized

    KCHF states that Priazovye's electronic intelligence equipment was modernized in 2008.

    Sources: Intelligence Ship Priazovye - Project 864 / Vishnya class

  5. Deployed toward Syria

    The Guardian reported that Russia dispatched Priazovye to the Syrian coast and eastern Mediterranean to keep tabs on the situation during the crisis surrounding possible US strikes.

    Sources: Syrian regime continues to redeploy forces away from US missile targets, Russian warships cross Bosphorus, en route to Syria

Vishnya class (Project 864) intelligence ship Images

Related Weapon Systems

Sources