Russian Navy to Commission Submarines in June-July and December 2012

Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines SSBN Yury Dolgoruky and SSBN Alexander Nevsky will be commissioned into Russian Navy in June-July and Dec 2012 respectively upon termination of state trials. According to a source in defense ministry, Project 885 Yasen nuclear-powered attack submarine SSGN Severodvinsk will be but in service in Nov-Dec 2012, reports ITAR-TASS.

“It was initially planned to deliver Severodvinsk to the Navy in June or July, but the military imposed very high requirements to trial program of the lead sub, five times as large as standard trials. So, the submarine can be commissioned in November or December“, explained the interviewee.

In total, it is planned to build up to ten Project Borei subs and same number of Yasen-class submarines by 2020. One Yury Dolgoruky-type submarine costs about RUR 23 bln, and one Severodvinsk-type sub costs over RUR 30 bln.

Lead Borei-class sub SSBN Yury Dolgoruky was laid down at Sevmash shipyard (Severodvinsk) in 1996. Next three similar submarines – SSBN Alexander Nevsky, SSBN Vladimir Monomakh, and SSBN Svyatitel Nikolai – were laid down in 2004, 2006, and 2011 respectively. According to ITAR-TASS, it is expected to lay down one submarine of this class every year since 2013 till 2015.

Keel for SSGN Severodvinsk was laid down at Sevmash in 1993. Construction of the second Project 885 Yasen submarine – SSGN Kazan – started in 1996. So far, it has not been reported when she is planned to join the Navy.

Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief ADM Vladimir Vysotsky said in Feb 2012 that “on June 1st or a bit later” Russia would place its strategic submarines (like Borei-class ones) to permanent patrol in neutral waters for the first time in 26 years.

It was also reported earlier on that Russian Navy would receive submarine-launched ballistic missiles R-30 Bulava along with commissioning of SSBN Yury Dolgoruky; those missiles are capable to carry up to 10 independently-targetable re-entry vehicles.

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Naval Today Staff , March 07, 2012;