Russian Navy to get new nuclear sub late in 2011

31.01.2011 Russian Navy will receive new 4-generation Project 885 Yasen nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) late in 2011, reports RIA Novosti referring to a representative of Malakhit Design Bureau which is the project developer. At present, the sub undergoes mooring trials and is being prepared for the shipyard's sea trials to be started in May 2011. The sub's armament is expected to be tested this summer.

SSN Severodvinsk was laid down in 1993. It was reported in Dec 2009 that the sub would kick off mooring trials till the end of the year. SSN Severodvinsk is a lead submarine of Project 885 Yasen. Currently, Sevmash shipyard builds the second sub of the project – SSN Kazan which was laid down on July 24, 2009. This submarine is being constructed under modernized project Yasen-M.

Initially, it was planned that Russian Navy will obtain 30 Yasen class subs, but now the reports are only about six submarines. SSN Severodvinsk was supposed to be delivered to the Navy till the end of 2010. Yasen class subs have length of 119 meters, and displacement of 13,800 tons. Endurance is 100 days.

Submarines of Yasen project will have a full speed of 31 knots and be armed with ten 650-mm and 533-mm torpedo tubes as well as 24 launchers of ship-to-ship and ship-to-land missiles. Also, the new Russian nuclear sub will be armed with extended-range cruise missiles.