Zvezdochka Prolongs Lifetime of Delfin-Class Subs to 35 Years

27.03.2012 Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center (Severodvinsk) will conduct phased technical recovery of all Project 667BDRM Delfin nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, reported ITAR-TASS referring to the shipyard's director general Vladimir Nikitin. As for him, lifetime of each sub will be extended from 25 to 35 years after those works.

As was earlier reported, Delfin-class submarines were supposed to be decommissioned since 2015. Thanks to technical recovery the subs will be in service at least till 2025. At present, Delfin-class submarines are being adapted for Liner ballistic missiles. According to the different estimates, such rearmament would maintain such submarines operable up to 2030.

Lead sub of the project – SSBN K-51 Verkhoturye – left covered slipway of Zvezdochka shipyard on March 24, 2012. She has already passed the lifetime extension program. Verkhoturye was docked at Zvezdochka in Dec 2010. The yard repaired the sub's hull, damage control systems, and steam-generating plant. SSBN Verkhoturye will be recommissioned into the Navy in Nov 2012.

Currently, Russian Navy operates six Project 667BDRM submarines. All of them had passed interim overhaul and modernization. The latest upgraded sub – K-407 Novomoskovsk – was put afloat in mid-Dec 2010. After modernization K-407 became more silent, her survivability and nuclear security were improved, as well as detection capability.

Length of Project 667BDRM strategic nuclear-powered submarines is 167 meters; beam is 12 meters; displacement is about 19,000 tons; test depth is 400 meters; max speed is 24 knots. Each Delfin-class sub can be armed by 16 ballistic missiles R-29RMU2 Sineva or Liner.