SSBN Alexander Nevsky, the Russian Navy’s second Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), will be commissioned in to the Russian Navy on 21 December 2013.

RIA Novosti cited a defence industry source as saying that the commissioning of the submarine into the Russian Navy fleet will take place during a ceremony at the Sevmash shipyard in the northern city of Severodvinsk.

The 170m-long Alexander Nevsky has a hull diameter of 13m, a crew capacity of 107, a submerged speed of 29k and a maximum depth of 450m.

"The Russian Navy is expected to receive eight Borei-class submarines to replace the existing class ballistic missile."

By 2015, the Russian Navy is expected to receive eight Borei-class submarines to replace the existing Project 941 and Project 667 (Nato Typhoon and Delta-3 and Delta-4) class ballistic missile, as part of a state 2020 rearmament procurement programme.

Powered by an OK-650 nuclear reactor and AEU steam turbine, Alexander Nevsky can carry up to 16 ballistic missiles and torpedoes, including the Bulava (SS-NX-30) sea-based SLBM.

Designed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, the Bulava replaces the R-39 solid-fuel SLBM.

Russia is planning to spend $166bn on its military rearmament programme through 2020, which will see the navy equipped with ten Graney-class nuclear attack submarines and 20 diesel-electric submarines, including six Varshavyanka-class vessels.

Defence Technology