05.09.2012
Text:
Photo: SSGN
Severodvinsk. Press service of JSC
Sevmash shipyard
"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.
