Then the underwater vehicle will be returned to combat strength
MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. The repair of the nuclear underwater habitable vehicle AS-31 (unofficial name "Losharik") will last up to four years. This was reported to TASS by a source in the military-industrial complex.
"It will take up to four years to repair the Losharik nuclear special submarine. Then the underwater vehicle will be returned to combat readiness, " he said.
The press service of PO "Sevmash" (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation), where the device will be repaired, did not comment on this information.
Earlier, TASS reported that in March, the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center in Severodvinsk completed a month-long operation to unload the core of a nuclear reactor from an emergency special submarine. According to another TASS source, an audit of the submarine found that its titanium hull was practically not damaged, so immediately after unloading the reactor core, work began on the repair and modernization of the Losharik . It was reported that during the repair, the replacement of the reactor is not planned.
The fire on the submarine AC-31 occurred on July 1, 2019 and claimed the lives of 14 sailors. Among the causes of the disaster, the media called an explosion and a fire of a lithium battery. The submarine's reactor was not damaged in the fire. In November 2019, the submarine was delivered to the"Zvezdochka" CA.
The project number and tactical and technical characteristics of the AC-31 are not officially disclosed, it is only known that it does not carry weapons and can dive to great depths. Because of the specific shape of the hull - several titanium spheres connected to each other - it was nicknamed "Losharik".