The Russian Navy’s northern fleet will receive the upgraded strategic nuclear Delta-IV Class submarine K-18 Kareliya on the 22 January 2010.

Kareliya has been at the Zvezdochka shipyard undergoing modernisation since October 2004. The overhauls improved the submarine’s tactical and technical performance and prolonged its lifetime by approximately ten years.

The submarine’s main weapon system is Sineva ballistic missile, which can carry ten 100kt warheads.