Alexandrit (Project 12700)

Project 12700 Alexandrit-class mine countermeasures vessels are designed for searching for and destroying mines in naval waters and coastal areas. They are notable for their monolithic fiberglass hull, which provides high strength and reduced magnetic signature.

Developed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau in the early 2000s, Project 12700 was conceived to replace aging Soviet-era minesweepers with modern mine countermeasure capabilities. The lead vessel of the class, Alexander Obukhov, was commissioned into the Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet in December 2016. Since entering service, these vessels have been deployed across the Baltic, Pacific, and Black Sea Fleets, with some units actively participating in security and mine-clearing operations during the conflict in Ukraine. Production remains active at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard, with more than ten hulls completed as Russia continues to modernize its coastal defense forces.