The Russian Navy is developing its fifth-generation nuclear-powered and diesel submarines at Rubin Central Design Bureau facility, according to Rubin head Igor Vilnit.
Rubin is working alongside the Russian Defence Ministry research centres, the Navy Institute and other partners and contractors to develop a basic design of the fifth-generation submarine for the Russian Navy.
Malakhit Design Bureau head Vladimir Dorofeyev was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying that the newest fifth-generation submarines will feature stealth technology.
"This is a field that requires serious scientific-technical research," Dorofeyev said.
Featuring lowered noise, automated control systems, reactor safety, and long-range weapons, the new fifth-generation submarines would be designed to serve the navy for around 50 years, Vilnit added.
New capabilities will be acquired for the vessels through cooperation with other armed forces components such as surface warships, warplanes, spacecraft and satellites, as well as other submarines, based on an integrated information space.
The navy currently operates third-generation submarines and fourth-generation submarines including Sevmash shipyard-built Project 955 Borey-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and Admiralty Shipyard-built Project 677 Lada-class, also known as Petersburg-class diesel-electric submarines.
The first Borey-class submarine, Yury Dolgoruky, was commissioned into the fleet in January 2013 to replace the existing Project 941 (NATO Typhoon class) and Project 667 class (Delta-3 and Delta-4) submarines.
Russia has plans to develop the fifth-generation submarine, armed with both ballistic and cruise missiles, by 2020 under a 2011-2020 arms procurement programme, the Defence Ministry stated.
Eight fourth-generation submarines, fitted with Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles, are planned to be constructed for the Russian Navy, as part of the 2020 procurement programme.
Image: Russian Navy’s Lada-class lead submarine, Sankt-Peterburg (B-585) stationed at a port. Photo: courtesy of Mike1979 Russia.
