SSGN Severodvinsk to Start Sea Trials in November

05.09.2012 Fourth-generation Project 885 Yasen nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine (SSGN) Severodvinsk will pass state sea trials in coming November; upon their results, the sub will be commissioned into Russian Navy in Dec 2012, said an insider in Russian defense industry on Sept 4.

"After the shipyard's sea trials, Severodvinsk returned to Sevmash and currently undergoes testing of torpedo tubes.

In mid-Sept, the sub will take the sea for the fourth time in this year to hold another round of trials. State sea trials are scheduled in November, and then the state acceptance board will commission the sub into the Navy", reports ITAR-TASS citing the source.

"It is a single-shaft submarine powered by water-cooled and water-moderated nuclear reactor with one turbine", he explained.

"Three batch-produced Caliber supersonic cruise missiles with flight range exceeding 2,500 km have been already manufactured for Severodvinsk", said the insider. "Under way to a target, Caliber missile changes flight trajectory in altitude and course. Moreover, velocity of a warhead after separation from the missile increases and approaches hypersonic speed", the source added.

"It is a high-precision ultra-speed weapon primarily designed to counter aircraft carriers", he said.

The source confirmed that in accordance with contracts signed by Russian defense ministry and United Shipbuilding Corporation under arms procurement program, seven Yasen-class submarines are to be built by 2020, including six subs made under modified Project 885M. The lead submarine SSGN Kazan is under construction at Sevmash shipyard.

"Strength hull of Kazan is almost completed", said the insider. In mid-Aug, Russian Navy Commander ADM Viktor Chirkov said SSGN Severodvinsk would join the Navy in the current year.

"Trials of the sub are on schedule. Hopefully, Russian naval ensign would be hoisted on Severodvinsk by the year end", reported Interfax citing Chirkov.

On Aug 15, a spokesman for United Shipbuilding Corporation denied information about faulty trials of the submarine, reported Vzglyad newspaper.

"Nuclear submarine Severodvinsk is successfully undergoing the shipyard's sea trials in the White Sea in full accordance with the pre-scheduled program", pointed out the official.

On Monday, a source of Interfax said that Yasen-class SSGN Severodvinsk would be commissioned not earlier than 2013 due to problems in powerplant.

Recall that the first trial round of Severodvinsk lasted 3 weeks. It was discontinued when "minor defects" were revealed in the new sub; to eliminate them, Severodvinsk had to return to the yard.

The next trial round passed smoothly. The sub spent about 2 months in the high sea. Experts of Sevmash and naval servicemen tested onboard systems at that time.

SSGN Severodvinsk is a double-hulled single-shafted nuclear submarine with reduced acoustic field rate. The conning tower has hydrodynamic oval shape; strength hull is subdivided into 10 compartments.