Naval Systems

Vishnya class (Project 864) intelligence ship

Also known as
  • Project 864
  • Project 864 Meridian class
  • Meridian class
  • Meridian-class intelligence ship
  • Vishnya-class intelligence ship
  • SSV-201 Priazovye
  • Priazovye
  • Vasiliy Tatishchev
  • Vasily Tatishchev
  • Viktor Leonov
  • Kareliya
  • Kurily
  • Tavriya
  • Fedor Golovin

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, sonar, and short-range self-defense weapons; documented wartime employment includes Russian deployments around Syria and Priazovye's 2023 Black Sea pipeline-security mission during the Russia-Ukraine War.

Vishnya class (Project 864) intelligence ship, Signals intelligence collection ship class, Naval Systems
Image source: Category:Priazovye (ship, 1987)

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

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

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
Class Members And Fleet Context

Project 864 was a small seven-ship family of Soviet intelligence collectors built in Gdansk for fleet-level radio, electronic, sonar, and regional monitoring tasks. Open sources repeatedly describe the class by both the NATO Vishnya name and the Soviet Meridian project name.

ShipCommon identifierDocumented context
PriazovyeSSV-201Black Sea Fleet ship documented in Syria-related deployments and the June 2023 Black Sea pipeline-security incident.
Vasiliy TatishchevSSV-231Baltic Fleet ship reported sent to the eastern Mediterranean in 2015 to strengthen monitoring around Syria.
Viktor LeonovCCB-175 / SSV-175Northern Fleet ship often reported in Atlantic and Caribbean surveillance patrols outside the conflict rows on this page.
KareliyaSSV-535Pacific Fleet ship identified by USNI News and the U.S. Coast Guard as operating near Hawaii in 2023.
Fedor Golovin, Tavriya, and KurilyProject 864 hullsListed by GlobalSecurity as part of the seven-ship Project 864 force built in Poland for the Soviet and Russian fleets.
Self-Defense Weapons

The class is built around intelligence collection rather than offensive strike, but KCHF lists a limited point-defense fit.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Igla, Man-portable infrared-homing surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseIglaShort-range surface-to-air missile

KCHF lists two four-round 9K38 Igla SAM launchers in Priazovye's armament fit, alongside two AK-306 30 mm close-in mounts.

Sources: Intelligence Ship Priazovye - Project 864 / Vishnya class

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

  6. Vasiliy Tatishchev sent to the Syrian theater

    SANA and GlobalSecurity reported that Vasiliy Tatishchev left the Baltic for the eastern Mediterranean to reinforce Russian naval monitoring around Syria.

    Sources: Russian military source: Russian surveillance ship en route to Syrian coast, Vishnya class - GlobalSecurity.org

  7. Priazovye attacked in the Black Sea

    Reuters and Anadolu reported Russian claims that Ukrainian uncrewed boats attacked Priazovye while the ship was monitoring and securing the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipeline routes.

    Sources: Reuters: Russia says Ukraine tried to attack Russian ship near major gas pipelines in Black Sea, Ukraine attacks Russian Black Sea fleet ship, Moscow claims

Media

Vishnya class (Project 864) intelligence ship Images

Vishnya class (Project 864) intelligence ship, Signals intelligence collection ship class, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: Category:Priazovye (ship, 1987)
Vishnya class (Project 864) intelligence ship, Signals intelligence collection ship class, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: Category:Priazovye (ship, 1987)
Related Weapon Systems
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Project 861M Moma-class intelligence ship, Electronic intelligence ship, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsProject 861M Moma-class intelligence shipElectronic intelligence shipProject 861M Moma-class intelligence ships were Soviet and Russian electronic-intelligence conversions of the Project 861 hydrographic survey design built at Stocznia Polnocna in Gdansk, Poland. Public ship references distinguish the base survey hulls from 861M intelligence conversions fitted with ESM, sonar, communications, and Strela self-defense equipment, while USNI documents Liman and Kil'din monitoring NATO actions in Kosovo from the Adriatic during Operation Allied Force.

Sources

Intelligence Ship Priazovye - Project 864 / Vishnya classPublisher: KCHF.RU | Note: Supports the ship class background, Priazovye service history, modernization date, technical specifications, and listed self-defense armament. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Vishnya class - GlobalSecurity.orgPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports class background, ship list context, SIGINT/COMINT role, self-defense fit, and 2011 Syrian Civil War deployment context for Vasiliy Tatishchev monitoring around Syria. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Syrian regime continues to redeploy forces away from US missile targetsPublisher: The Guardian | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War deployment context for Priazovye as a Russian reconnaissance ship sent to the Syrian coast and eastern Mediterranean. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Russian warships cross Bosphorus, en route to SyriaPublisher: Hürriyet Daily News | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War deployment context for Priazovye sailing toward the eastern Mediterranean and Syrian coast during the 2013 crisis. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Russian military source: Russian surveillance ship en route to Syrian coastPublisher: Syrian Arab News Agency | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War deployment context for Vasiliy Tatishchev sailing to the eastern Mediterranean and Syrian coast to monitor air, regional, and maritime activity. | Accessed: 2026-07-01VIDEO: Coast Guard Tracking Russian Intelligence Ship Off HawaiiPublisher: USNI News | Note: Supports background context identifying Kareliya as a Vishnya-class intelligence ship monitored near Hawaii by the U.S. Coast Guard. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Category:Priazovye (ship, 1987)Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the Priazovye gallery images. | Accessed: 2026-07-01File:Разведывательный корабль Приазовье.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports primary image provenance and licensing context for the main Priazovye photo. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Reuters: Russia says Ukraine tried to attack Russian ship near major gas pipelines in Black SeaPublisher: Reuters | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use by reporting Priazovye under attack while patrolling near the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Ukraine attacks Russian Black Sea fleet ship, Moscow claimsPublisher: Anadolu Ajansı | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use by reporting Russian Defense Ministry claims that Priazovye was attacked while monitoring and ensuring security along TurkStream and Blue Stream routes. | Accessed: 2026-07-01