In March, the specialists of the Ship Repair Center "Zvezdochka" in Severodvinsk completed the unloading of the core of the nuclear reactor of the burned-out nuclear deep-water station (AGS) AS-31 "Losharik" project 10831, TASS reports, citing a source close to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The interlocutor added that the corresponding operation "lasted about a month", after which work began on the repair and modernization of the AGS. According to the source, the titanium body of the station was practically not damaged, and the nuclear reactor of the habitable vehicle is not planned to be replaced.
In March, the British magazine Navy Lookout showed a possible image of the Russian nuclear submarine K-329 "Belgorod" project 09852 with the AS-31 "Losharik" AGS project 10831.
In July 2019 [...], the AC-31 Losharik of Project 10831 burned down, resulting in the death of 14 sailors. At the same time, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu set the task to restore this AGS as soon as possible.
According to open data, the AS-31 Losharik of Project 10831 is designed for operations on sea soil at a depth of up to six kilometers, including, in particular, lighting of the surrounding landscapes, manipulation of various external products, such as installing various sensors and cutting underwater cables, and general reconnaissance. Structurally, the body of this AGS hides seven titanium relatively independent spherical compartments connected by transitions. The tail compartments are presumably occupied by a nuclear power plant. The total length of the submarine is 69 meters, width-7 meters, the speed of the underwater course-30 knots.
Ivan Potapov