They want to transfer the strategic nuclear submarine of the new generation of Project 955A to the Russian navy at the end of 2023. The launch of the ship was planned for next year.
The timing of the transfer of the new submarine to the Russian Navy, citing a source in shipbuilding, was reported by TASS. The nuclear submarine will join the Pacific Fleet at the end of 2023.
The ship will be launched in about a year. In the first half of 2023, it will perform a full test cycle, including launches of Bulava missiles.
The submarine was laid down on December 18, 2015. She became the seventh nuclear-powered vessel of Project 955 and the fourth ship of the improved project 955A. Currently, the fleet has four submarines of projects 955 and 955A. The fifth submarine, Prince Oleg, should be handed over to the Navy by the end of the year.
The boat of the project 955 "Borey" (955A "Borey-A") was developed by specialists of the Central Design Bureau of Marine Equipment "Rubin". Each such ship can carry on board 16 Bulava solid-fuel ballistic missiles placed in vertical shafts. In addition, the submarine has torpedo tubes.
The difference between the 955A project and the basic version was even less noise, better maneuvering and holding systems at depth, as well as an improved weapon control system. Today, representatives of the 955/955A project are the only strategic submarines of the fourth generation.
Russia is actively implementing a program for the construction of another fourth-generation submarine, the 885/885M multi-purpose submarine. The first production boat of the 885M project — K-573 "Novosibirsk" - was put to sea in the summer. Before the end of the year, it is expected to enter into operation.
K-573 "Novosibirsk"
Image Source: TASS
The submarines of the 885M project, among other things, are notable for the fact that they should become the carrier of the new hypersonic missile "Zircon", which is now being actively tested. As the first full-time underwater carrier of the complex, the Perm boat, laid down in 2016, is called. Russia may launch the latest hypersonic missile from this submarine in 2024.
Recently, the hypersonic weapons program has overcome several important stages at once. So, in September, it became known about the completion of flight design tests of the Zircon from the surface carrier.
The signing of the first agreement for the purchase of missiles was announced in the summer. The hypersonic complexes will be mass-supplied to the fleet next year.
