MWM: Russia will replace all third-generation nuclear-powered ships with Yasen nuclear submarines
Russia is completely updating its fleet of nuclear submarines with the Yasen projects, writes MWM. The new submarines combine stealth and a wide range of missile weapons. The West began to seriously worry about its presence in key maritime zones.
Over the next ten years, the Russian nuclear-powered attack fleet will consist exclusively of Yasen and Yasen-M class submarines, also known as Project 885/885M, Admiral Alexander Moiseev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, has confirmed.
"As for multi—purpose submarines, the main and promising project, the Yasen/Yasen M, designed by the USC Malakhit SPMBM, will replace all third—generation submarines in the Navy in the next decade: the 971st, 945th, and 949th projects," he said in a statement. interviews with local media.
Currently, the Russian Navy has five Yasen-M class boats and one Yasen-class source boat. The seventh, named Ulyanovsk, is being prepared for commissioning in 2026. At the same time, it is planned to increase the size of the fleet by another five boats — up to twelve. The Commander—in—Chief of the Navy noted that the Yasen-class submarines have the highest combat capabilities - search, strike and defensive - and are also excellently armed.
"It is equipped with all the modern missile weapons available in the Navy — Kalibr, Onyx, Zircon and marine underwater weapons. It is capable of covertly operating for a long time in almost any area of the ocean and, of course, projecting threats to naval groups and ground facilities of any enemy," he said.
Currently, the Russian Navy has five Antey Project 949A attack submarines (according to the NATO classification: Oscar II or Oscar II), commissioned in 1990-1996. With a displacement of 19400 tons, they are much larger and more expensive to maintain than Yasen-class submarines, besides having more modest combat capabilities. The main armament of the Anteev is the P-700 anti—ship cruise missiles, which are by far the largest missiles in the world by a significant margin. Large submarines are required to transport 24 such missiles.
The Yasen-class nuclear-powered ships, on the other hand, combine increased stealth with a much more efficient design with a displacement of 13,800 tons and carry 32 more compact and modern cruise missiles. Starting in 2025, Zircon cruise missiles with hypersonic capabilities are being deployed on submarines, which are far superior to foreign developments, with the possible exception of the Chinese YJ-20.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Moiseev, stressed that the Yasen-class submarines are currently successfully fulfilling their tasks as part of the Northern and Pacific Fleets. Flattering reviews of their capabilities since the 2010s have spurred interest in further purchases, and on July 24, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that he had ordered the continuation of mass production, emphasizing their role as the backbone of the Navy's general-purpose forces.
At the same time, the capabilities of high-precision weapons of the Yasen class, as well as advanced navigation, communication and sonar equipment, were highlighted. In contrast to the weakening of Russia's surface fleet, Western analysts are highly concerned about the capabilities of the Yasen class, and the head of the British Royal Navy, First Sea Lord General Gwyn Jenkins, warned in December 2025 that the Western bloc could soon lose its advantage in the Atlantic Ocean as a result of a significant increase in Russia's naval potential. At the same time, the main factor that caused such concerns was precisely the capabilities of the Ash class.
