SSBN of Borei-A project to be laid down on Dec 22 at Sevmash

09.12.2009
Nuclear-powered Project 955A Borei-A strategic submarine will be laid down on Dec 22 at Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, informs press service of OJSC Sevmashpredpriyatie.

Keel laying is associated with 70th anniversary of the shipyard. The submarine ballistic missile carrier will be named after Nicholas the Thaumaturge – Svyatitel Nikolai, previously said Nikolai Kalistratov, Director General of the shipyard.

Presently, three Borei-class subs are being constructed at Sevmash – Yury Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh.

Russian defense ministry plans to build series of 8 submarines which are to become a core of Russian naval strategic nuclear forces.

The project lead sub Yury Dolgoruky was laid down in 1996 at Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. Strength hull was completed only in 2005 due to underfinancing. The sub left the dock on April 15, 2007 and was under mooring trials till October 2007 at outfitting quay. Then the sub had passed builder's sea trials; she was launched on Feb 12, 2008 and put at outfitting quay. Nuclear reactor was started on Nov 21, 2008. In March 2009 the mooring trials began. In October 2009 the source from the shipyard said the sub would be commissioned by the end of the year. In November Yury Dolgoruky had successfully finished subsequent phase of builder's trials.

Surface speed of SSBN Yury Dolgoruky is 15 knots; submerged speed is 29 knots; operating depth is 400 meters; test depth is 480 meters; endurance is 90 days; crew is 107 men.

Surface displacement of SSBN Yury Dolgoruky is 14,720 tonnes; submerged displacement is 24,000 tonnes; extreme length is 160 meters; extreme beam is 13.5 meters; mean draft is 10 meters.

The sub is powered by 190 MW water-cooled thermal reactor OK-650V; steam-turbine plant with main turbogear assembly; propulsion shaft; jet propeller.

Yury Dolgoruky is planned to be armed with 12 Bulava ballistic missiles in launching tubes. Next subs of the project will carry 16 Bulava missiles. The sub is also armed with six 533-mm torpedo tubes and MANPADS.

Sevmash is Russia's largest shipbuilding complex. It operates since 1939 and is specialized in submarine construction for the Navy.

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: SSBN Yury Dolgoruky (Reuters)