Construction on the Russian Navy’s Yasen/Graney-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, SSGN Novosibirsk, will begin on 26 July with a keel laying ceremony at the Sevmash shipyard near the White Sea.
RIA Novosti cited St Petersburg-based Malakhit design bureau head Vladimir Dorofeyev as saying that the third Project 885 Yasen-class submarine would be laid down at the Sevmash shipyard near the White Sea, to boost Russian Navy’s underwater attack capabilities.
The Russian Defence Ministry previously signed a contract with Sevmash shipyard for the construction of five Yasen-class submarines, to support Russian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance operations and special missions.
Armed with long-range cruise missiles and eight vertical launching system tubes for cruise missiles, the 111m-long and 12m-wide Yasen-class submarines can strike against submarines, surface warships and land-based targets.
Powered by a KPM-type pressurised water reactor and steam turbine, the submarine has a full load displacement of around 13,000t and can cruise at a top speed of 35k and accommodate a crew of 50.
Scheduled to be delivered to the Russian Navy by the end of 2013, the first Yasen-class submarine, Severodvinsk (K-329) is undergoing a second sea trials, while the second submarine, Kazan, is under construction at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, Russia.
Sevmash shipyard head Mikhail Budnichenko was quoted by RIA Novosti during the St Petersburg International Maritime Defense Show.
"Sevmash is confirming the delivery of a Project 885 Yasen-class and two Borey-class nuclear submarines to the Russian Navy in 2013," he said.
Russia plans to spend $166bn on its military rearmament programme up to 2020, which will see the navy equipped with ten Graney-class nuclear attack submarines and 20 diesel-electric submarines, including six Varshavyanka-class vessels.
Image: The Russian Navy’s Yasen-class submarines are fitted with 25.6in torpedo tubes. Photo: courtesy of One half 3544.
