SSBN Yury Dolgoruky completed sea trials

28.09.2010 First sub of Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Yury Dolgoruky has finished subsequent stage of shipyard's sea trials, reports ITAR-TASS referring to Elena Makovetskaya, representative of Sevmash shipyard press-service. The latest trial program was one of the longest cruises performed by the sub. Currently, the crew and the trial team are preparing the submarine for state acceptance inspection.

SSBN Yury Dolgoruky carried out the previous stage of sea trials in July 2010. The sub's navigational system, buoyancy control system, and some other characteristics were tested at sea. Afterwards, the source in United Shipbuilding Corporation told Interfax that it was untimely to discuss the sub's commission into Russian Navy because major weapon of SSBN Yury Dolgoruky had not been ready so far.

According to Project Borei, each submarine will be capable to carry 16 submarine-launched ballistic missiles R-30 Bulava. Three test launches of the new missile are supposed to be held till the end of 2010, however exact date of the test has nor been reported so far. Twelve launches of SLBM Bulava have been previously conducted; only five of them turned to be successful. Presumably, reason of failures is either breakdown of technology in missile assembly process, manufacturing defect, or low quality control.

Borei class submarines have displacement of 24,000 tons and capable to dive down to 450 meters. These subs can accelerate up to 29 knots. Apart from missile tubes for R-30, there are 6 torpedo tubes. It should be noted that Project 955 has underwent several changes. In particular, SSBNs Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh are built under Project 955A. They will also have 16 missile tubes.

It was reported in March 2010 that the fourth Borei class sub – SSBN Svyatitel Nikolai – would be constructed under modernized Project 955U. Supposedly, this submarine would be armed with 20 launch tubes for SLBM Bulava.