Naval Systems

Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship (Project 18280)

Also known as
  • Project 18280
  • Yuriy Ivanov-class intelligence ship
  • Yuri Ivanov-class intelligence ship
  • Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship
  • Yuriy Ivanov class
  • Yury Ivanov class
  • Project 18280 intelligence ship
  • Project 18280 communications ship
  • Project 18280 medium reconnaissance ship

The Yury Ivanov-class (Project 18280) is a Russian intelligence-collection ship class designed by Central Design Bureau Iceberg and built at Severnaya Verf for fleet communications, command support, radio reconnaissance, electronic intelligence, and SIGINT duties. Ivan Khurs brought the class into the Black Sea Fleet and has been documented in the Russia-Ukraine War through Ukrainian attacks on Russian naval assets at sea and in occupied Sevastopol.

Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship (Project 18280), Intelligence collection ship, Naval Systems
Image source: Wikimedia Commons: Ivan Khurs USS Farragut Image1.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Reconnaissance & SurveillanceForce Protection
Side
Russia

Ivan Khurs, the Black Sea Fleet Project 18280/Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship, is directly documented in the war through Ukrainian attacks: a May 24, 2023 USV attack while Russia said it was protecting the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipeline area, a March 2024 Sevastopol missile strike reported by Ukraine as damaging the ship, and an April 2026 SBU-reported Sevastopol strike. Damage details remain unevenly confirmed across Russian, Ukrainian, and open-source reporting.

Role details
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Type
Intelligence collection ship
Service note
2015-present
Designer
Central Design Bureau Iceberg
Designed
2000s
Unit cost
Not publicly reported
Produced
2004-2018 for first two commissioned ships
Number built
2 commissioned

Specifications

Standard displacement
About 2,500 tons
Full load displacement
About 4,000 tons
Length
95-96 m
Beam
16 m
Draught
4 m
Speed
About 20 knots
Range
About 8,000 nautical miles at 16 knots
Complement
About 120-131
Propulsion
Two 5DRA diesel units rated 2,720 hp each, two fixed-pitch propellers, and ADG-630 diesel generators
Armament
4 x 14.5 mm MTPU-1 mounts; 6 x 9K38 Igla launchers with up to 32 9M39 missiles
Mission role
Fleet communications, command support, radio reconnaissance, electronic intelligence, and SIGINT collection
Navigation and bridge systems
MR-231-3 navigation radar and Bridge-18280 integrated bridge system reported in open profiles
Mission And Defensive Fit

Project 18280 ships sit in the gray zone between auxiliary communications vessels and intelligence collectors: public profiles describe fleet communications, command support, electronic warfare, radio reconnaissance, and electronic-intelligence missions rather than heavy combat duties.

Collection role

Sources identify the class as a SIGINT or reconnaissance ship equipped for navigation, radar, and electronic-intelligence work.

Sources: Ivan Khurs class profile; Project 18280 Yury Ivanov profile.

Self-defense fit

The public armament fit is light: 14.5 mm MTPU mounts and Igla short-range air-defense missiles, useful for local force protection rather than offensive naval combat.

Sources: Ivan Khurs class profile; Russia Claims Ukrainian Drone Boats Attacked Its Navy Ship Off Turkey.

Combat evidence

Direct Ukraine-war evidence ties Ivan Khurs to attacks in May 2023, March 2024, and April 2026, but open reporting does not establish that Project 18280 ships fired offensive weapons in Ukraine.

Sources: Russian Intelligence Ship Seemingly Hit by Ukrainian USV; Ukrainian navy says a third of Russian warships in the Black Sea have been destroyed or disabled; Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 26, 2026.

Variants

Project 18280 is represented by two commissioned ships in the available public sources.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Yury IvanovLead ship

Laid down at Severnaya Verf on December 27, 2004, launched on September 30, 2013, and included in Russian Navy service in July 2015 for Northern Fleet service.

Sources: TASS dossier on Yury Ivanov, RIA report on Yury Ivanov Navy entry, Project 18280 Yury Ivanov profile

Ivan KhursSecond ship

Laid down at Severnaya Verf on November 14, 2013, launched on May 16, 2017, and commissioned in June 2018 for Black Sea Fleet service.

Sources: Ivan Khurs class profile, Project 18280 Yury Ivanov profile, Russian Navy commissions 2nd Project 18280 ship Ivan Khurs

Self-Defense Weapons

The class is built for intelligence collection, but open ship references list 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

The Ivan Khurs profile lists six 9K38 Igla SAM launchers with up to 32 9M39 missiles in the Project 18280 armament fit.

Sources: Ivan Khurs class profile

KPV, 14.5 mm heavy machine gun, Infantry WeaponsKPV14.5 mm heavy machine gun

The Project 18280 defensive gun mounts are described as MTPU/MTPU-1 naval pedestal mounts using 14.5 mm KPV/KPVT-family machine guns.

Sources: Ivan Khurs class profile, Russia Claims Ukrainian Drone Boats Attacked Its Navy Ship Off Turkey

Timeline

Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship (Project 18280) Key Events

  1. Lead ship laid down

    Severnaya Verf laid down the lead ship Yury Ivanov, launching the Project 18280 class program.

    Sources: TASS dossier on Yury Ivanov

  2. Yury Ivanov launched

    The lead Project 18280 ship Yury Ivanov was launched after being laid down at Severnaya Verf in 2004.

    Sources: TASS dossier on Yury Ivanov, RIA report on Yury Ivanov Navy entry

  3. Ivan Khurs laid down

    Severnaya Verf laid down Ivan Khurs, the second Project 18280 ship, under yard number 788.

    Sources: Ivan Khurs class profile

  4. Yury Ivanov entered Navy service

    Russian reporting said the Andreevsky flag was raised on Yury Ivanov during Navy Day events, placing the lead ship in Russian Navy service for later Northern Fleet duty.

    Sources: RIA report on Yury Ivanov Navy entry, New Kaliningrad report on Yury Ivanov flag raising

  5. Ivan Khurs launched

    Severnaya Verf launched Ivan Khurs, the second Project 18280 ship.

    Sources: Ivan Khurs class profile

  6. Ivan Khurs accepted and commissioned

    The Ivan Khurs profile records commissioning on June 18, 2018; later reporting described the St. Andrew's flag ceremony at Severnaya Verf on June 25.

    Sources: Ivan Khurs class profile, Russian Navy commissions 2nd Project 18280 ship Ivan Khurs

  7. Black Sea attack

    Russia said Ukrainian uncrewed speedboats attacked Ivan Khurs near the Bosphorus approaches while the ship was protecting the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipeline area; later reporting and video analysis left damage claims unresolved.

    Sources: Russian Intelligence Ship Seemingly Hit by Ukrainian USV, Russia: Warship Guarding Black Sea Pipelines Attacked by Unmanned Ukraine Craft, Russia Claims Ukrainian Drone Boats Attacked Its Navy Ship Off Turkey

  8. Ukraine reports Ivan Khurs strike

    After Ukraine's March 2024 Sevastopol missile strikes, Ukrainian officials reported that Ivan Khurs had been damaged along with other Black Sea Fleet targets; AP noted Russia acknowledged a major attack but did not confirm fleet damage.

    Sources: Ukrainian navy says a third of Russian warships in the Black Sea have been destroyed or disabled, Ukraine strikes four Russian ships with missile attacks in Sevastopol

  9. SBU reports Sevastopol damage

    ISW/CTP reported Ukraine's Security Service statement that overnight strikes on occupied Sevastopol damaged Ivan Khurs, identified as a Yury Ivanov-class reconnaissance ship, among other Russian naval and military targets.

    Sources: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 26, 2026

Media

Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship (Project 18280) Videos

Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship (Project 18280) Images

Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship (Project 18280), Intelligence collection ship, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons: Ivan Khurs USS Farragut Image4.jpg
Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship (Project 18280), Intelligence collection ship, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons: Ivan Khurs USS Farragut Image7.jpg
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Sources

TASS dossier on Yury IvanovPublisher: TASS | Note: Background dossier with class role, designer, dimensions, propulsion, crew, and armament details. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Ivan Khurs class profilePublisher: Black Sea Fleet of Russia | Note: Ship profile with Project 18280 role, Severnaya Verf build, launch, commissioning, and detailed specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Project 18280 Yury Ivanov profilePublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Background profile with Severnaya Verf build details, Iceberg design attribution, fleet assignment context, Project 18280 mission descriptions, class-member chronology, and public specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-03RIA report on Yury Ivanov Navy entryPublisher: RIA Novosti | Note: Background and service-entry source for Yury Ivanov: planned July 26, 2015 Russian Navy entry, Northern Fleet assignment, Severnaya Verf build, Iceberg design, role, displacement, range, and crew. | Accessed: 2026-07-03New Kaliningrad report on Yury Ivanov flag raisingPublisher: New Kaliningrad | Note: Reports the July 26, 2015 Andreevsky flag raising on Yury Ivanov, its inclusion in Russian Navy service, Severnaya Verf construction, and later Northern Fleet service. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Russian Navy commissions 2nd Project 18280 ship Ivan KhursPublisher: Naval Today | Note: Reports Ivan Khurs commissioning ceremony at Severnaya Verf on June 25, 2018, Black Sea Fleet assignment, SIGINT/electronic-warfare/fleet-management role, and principal dimensions. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Russian Intelligence Ship Seemingly Hit by Ukrainian USVPublisher: Naval News | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use: reports the May 24, 2023 Ukrainian USV attack on Ivan Khurs in the Black Sea and identifies it as a Project 18280/Yury Ivanov-class SIGINT intelligence ship. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Russia: Warship Guarding Black Sea Pipelines Attacked by Unmanned Ukraine CraftPublisher: gCaptain / Reuters | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use: Reuters reports Russia's claim that Ivan Hurs/Ivan Khurs was attacked by three Ukrainian uncrewed speedboats in the Black Sea while protecting the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Russia Claims Ukrainian Drone Boats Attacked Its Navy Ship Off TurkeyPublisher: The War Zone | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use: reports Russia's May 24, 2023 claim that Ukrainian USVs attacked Ivan Khurs in the Black Sea and links the vessel to the Project 18280/Yury Ivanov class. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Ukrainian navy says a third of Russian warships in the Black Sea have been destroyed or disabledPublisher: Associated Press | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use: reports a Ukrainian Navy spokesman's statement that Ivan Khurs was damaged in the March 2024 Sevastopol strike, while Russia acknowledged the attack but not fleet damage. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Ukraine strikes four Russian ships with missile attacks in SevastopolPublisher: Naval News | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use: reports Ukraine's March 2024 claim that Ivan Khurs was struck in Sevastopol and notes that satellite imagery had not confirmed the damage extent at publication time. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 26, 2026Publisher: Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use: reports the SBU statement that April 25-26, 2026 Ukrainian strikes damaged Ivan Khurs, identified as a Yury Ivanov-class reconnaissance ship, at occupied Sevastopol. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Wikimedia Commons category: Ivan Khurs (ship, 2017)Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the Ivan Khurs file set used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Wikimedia Commons: Ivan Khurs USS Farragut Image1.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: File-page provenance for the primary Ivan Khurs gallery image from the USS Farragut encounter image set. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Wikimedia Commons: Ivan Khurs USS Farragut Image4.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: File-page provenance for the second Ivan Khurs gallery image from the USS Farragut encounter image set. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Wikimedia Commons: Ivan Khurs USS Farragut Image7.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: File-page provenance for the third Ivan Khurs gallery image from the USS Farragut encounter image set. | Accessed: 2026-07-03