13.01.2010
OJSC Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center (Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region) will deliver Project 667BDRM SSBN Karelia to Russian Navy on Jan 22; the sub has passed interim overhaul and modernization, reported the shipyard's press service.
According to the yard official,
Karelia will sail off to permanent basing site (Murmansk region) till the end of the week; an official acceptance memorandum will be signed on Jan 22.
It was previously reported that interim overhaul and modernization of SSBN
Karelia started in Oct 2004. Over 100 innovations improving sub's performance characteristics were applied. Noisiness of the submarine was reduced; its detection capability of enemy subs has been significantly increased; casualty control and nuclear safety were also improved. Besides, missile system was upgraded as well.
SSBN
Karelia is presently armed with
RSM-54 Sineva missiles designed by
Makeev State Missile Center and was commissioned in July 2007. The sub was launched in Dec 2008; successfully completed sea trials in Dec 2009. Operation life of the sub will make 10 years.
K-18 is fifth submarine of Project 667BDRM which was upgraded by
Zvezdochka. Previously, the shipyard worked on SSBNs
Verkhoturye,
Yekaterinburg,
Tula, and
Bryansk.
Project 667BDRM strategic nuclear-powered submarines are the basis of naval component of Russian strategic nuclear forces. Surface displacement of the project's sub is 11,740 tonnes; submerged displacement is 18,200 tonnes; full submerged speed is 26 knots; submergence depth is down to 400 meters. Armament includes 16 SLBMs and four 533-mm torpedo tubes. The crew is 135. All subs of Project 667BDRM are in service at Northern Fleet.
Source: , photo: Project 667BDRM submarine (submarine.id.ru)
