Aist-class LCAC

The Aist class (NATO-Code; Russian Project 12321 Dzheyran) was the first large assault hovercraft operated by the Soviet Navy. It was designed by the Almaz design bureau wing of the Almaz Shipbuilding Company in 1964–1965. Production of the craft lasted from 1970 until 1985 at Almaz's plant in Leningrad.

A PT-76 tank emerges from an Aist-class LCAC
Class overview
Builders	Almaz Shipbuilding Company
Operators	Soviet Navy  Russian Navy
Built	1975–1985
In commission	1975–present
Building	20
Completed	20
Active	6
General characteristics
Type	Air-cushioned landing craft
Displacement	298 long tons (303 t) full load
Length	47.3 m (155 ft 2 in)
Beam	17.8 m (58 ft 5 in)
Propulsion	2 × 9,600 hp (7.2 MW) DT-4 Kuznetsov NK-12MV gas turbines driving 4 axial lift fans and 4 propeller units (4 × four-bladed variable-pitch propellers, 2 pusher, 2 tractor)
Speed	70 knots (130 km/h; 81 mph)
Range	120 nmi (220 km) at 50 kn (93 km/h; 58 mph)
Capacity	80 tons or 4 light tanks and 50 assault troops or 2 medium tanks and 200 troops or 3 APCs and 100 troops
Complement	15 (3 officers)
Sensors and processing systems	Kivach I band surface search radar Drum Tilt H/I-band fire-control radar High Pole B Square Head IFF
Armament	2 × twin AK-230 30 mm 2 × quadruple SA-N-5 SAM launcher systems (not on all ships) 2 × PK-16 chaff launchers (only on two ships)

Registry

• #609
• #610
• #615
• #700
• MDK 89 (formerly #730)
• MDK 113 (formerly #722)

See also

• List of ships of the Soviet Navy
• List of ships of Russia by project number

References

• Sharpe, Richard (RN), Jane's Fighting Ships 1990-91, ISBN 0-7106-0904-3
• Air cushion small landing ships – Complete Ship List (in English)