Russian Defense Ministry Defers Commissioning of SSBN Yury Dolgoruky

22.10.2012 Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered strategic submarine (SSBN) Yury Dolgoruky will be commissioned into Russian Navy in 2013, reports Interfax referring to Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov. The fleet was supposed to receive the new sub in Sept-Oct 2012. The minister did not specify the reason for postponed commissioning.

As is expected, new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Bulava would join the Navy along with the first Borei-class sub. According to Serdiukov, the second submarine of the project, SSBN Alexander Nevsky will be commissioned in Pacific Fleet in 2014. It was earlier reported that Russian Navy would receive that sub in Dec 2012. In total, Russian Navy is supposed to obtain eight Borei-class subs by the end of 2020.

It was initially expected that SSBN Yury Dolgoruky would be put in service by July 29, 2012. However, that deadline was postponed due to the need for additional tests of the sub's onboard systems. It was said early in Oct that Sevmash shipyard had eliminated all defects and signed an acceptance certificate. At the other side, the certificate was signed by Admiral Alexander Tatarinov, Chief of Russian Navy Main HQ.

First two Borei-class subs will carry sixteen Bulava missiles each. Such subs displace 24,000 tons; their maximal submerged speed is 29 knots and endurance is 90 days. Test depth is 480 meters. Apart from Bulava missiles, each sub is equipped with six 533-mm torpedo tubes capable to launch torpedoes, rocket torpedoes, and cruise missiles.