Hull of 5-gen sub to be unified for cruise and ballistic missiles

21.03.2011 Fifth-generation submarine which development was mentioned in State Arms Program 2011-2020 will have the hull unified for both ballistic and cruise missiles, reported RIA Novosti referring to a top-ranking spokesman for the Navy.

New arms procurement program provides creation of a 5-gen submarine, said deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin in February. Now Russian Navy operates only with 3rd-generation subs. Lead submarines of the 4th-generation projects – SSBN Yury Dolgoruky and SSGN Severodvinsk – are under pre-commission trials.

"The concept of a new submarine implies the hull unified both for cruise and ballistic missiles, so it is developed by Rubin and Malakhit design bureaus which are specialized in strategic and attack submarines respectively", said the admiral.

Russia celebrated 105th anniversary of submarine force on March 19.

According to the interviewee, distinctive features of fifth-generation subs will be improved silence, automated control systems, safe nuclear reactor, and long-range weapons. "I mean not ballistic missiles but long-range cruise missiles and torpedoes", he said.

Answering the question whether it was prematurely to develop 5-gen subs while the Navy has no 4-gen subs in inventory, the admiral said: "It has been always like that. As soon as designers finish work over one generation, they start developing another one. That is normal process, it cannot stand still".