The seventh Project 955 Borei-class (NATO reporting name: Dolgorukiy-class)
nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), Emperor Alexander
III, was laid down by Russia’s major defense shipyard, Sevmash,
in Severodvinsk, TASS reported from the keel laying ceremony. The
SSBN will join the Pacific Fleet, Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief for
Armament Viktor Bursuk said on Friday.
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ceremony of laying down the new submarine was attended by Northern Fleet
Commander Vladimir Korolyov, Sevmash Shipyard CEO Mikhail Budnichenko
and Head of the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering Igor
Vilnit.
The Russian Navy will receive the in-construction Project 955A Borei-A-class
Duke Vladimir SSBN, featuring an improved design, in two years,
Igor Vilnit, director general, Rubin Design Bureau, told journalists
on Friday. "The Borei-A-class submarines are being built very quickly,"
he noted. "The first Borei-A will be commissioned for service with
the Navy in two years."
The Russian Navy operates three Borei-class submarines, the flag ship
Yury Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh. The first two
were commissioned in 2013, while the latest one is in active service
since December 2014. The first submarine of the Project 955-A Borei-II
class, dubbed Knyaz Vladimir, is expected to enter service in 2017.
By 2020, the Russian Navy plans to operate a total of eight Borei class
ballistic missile submarines, three Project 955 subs and five Project
955-A vessels. The Borei class submarines are expected to remain in
service for decades to come, at least until 2040.
The Project 955 SSBNs are fourth-generation nuclear-powered submarines
designed to destroy the enemy’s land-based strategic targets and
to execute tactical missions, e.g. dealing with hostile surface combatants
and submarines. The Boreis feature the latest advances in ship-based
radio electronics and up-to-date hull hydrodynamics improvements slashing
the acoustic signature as well. The main armament of the Project 955
submarines is the cutting-edge R-30 Bulava (SS-NX-30/SS-N-32) SLBM system
with a range of more than 8,000 km. Each of the Borei-class SSBNs carries
16 solid-propellant missiles with a multiple individually targeted re-entry
vehicle warhead and has an emergency escape chamber accommodating the
whole of the crew. A Project 955 submarine is 170 m long and 13.5 m
abeam. It dives to 450 m and carries a crew of 107.
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