Russian Navy's Tula SSBN (Projet 667BDRM Delfin – Delta-IV) Back to Sea In August After Refit

: Posted On Friday, 19 February 2016 09:09

Naval Forces News - Russia

Russian Navy's Tula SSBN (Projet 667BDRM Delfin – Delta-IV) Back to Sea In August After Refit

The Russian Northern Fleet’s Project 667BDRM (NATO reporting name: Delta IV) K-114 Tula nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) will be put afloat in August 2016 after repairs at the Zvyozdochka Shipyard in Severodvinsk in north Russia, the shipyard’s press office told TASS on Thursday.

K-114 Tula at a pier of the Russian Northern Fleet's naval base in the town of Gadzhiyevo, Murmansk Oblast. Picture: Ria Novosti

"The submarine’s repair is planned to be completed by late summer. The submarine Tula will be put afloat in August," the press office said. The nuclear-powered submarine Tula was docked in late 2015. "Unlike its Project 667BDRM predecessors, the submarine Tula was not placed in the slipway facility for repairs, considering its technical condition and the extension of inter-repair periods. The whole cycle of repair works will be conducted in the open air, in a dock and then afloat," the press office said.

According to the press office, the repair of the submarine Tula will be a third shorter than the usual period needed to repair other Project 667BDRM submarines. After the repairs, the submarine’s service life will be extended by 3.5 years.

The Project 667BDRM SSBNs are designed for destroying strategic installations of the enemy. The submarines of the class also can sink surface combatants and submarines, using their organic torpedoes. Each of the SSBNs accommodates 16 intercontinental ballistic missiles of various types and four 533-mm torpedo tubes in the bow. Their standard weapons suite consists of 12 missiles and torpedoes, including Vodopad (SS-N-16 Stallion) antisubmarine missiles. The submarines of the class can carry modified R-29RMU2 Sineva (SS-N-23 Skiff) and R-29RMU2.1 Liner ballistic missiles. The latter is a version of the Sineva capable of penetrating any ballistic missile defenses. All Project 667BDR/BDRM submarines are expected to transition to the Liner SLBM, which will allow extending their service life until 2030. In all, the Russian Navy operates six Project 667BDRM submarines.

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