Russian Navy to Receive 3 Nuclear Submarines in 2021, Keel to be laid for 2 More

The Russian Navy is scheduled to receive three nuclear- powered submarines this year; besides, keel for two more strategic nuclear submarines laid by United Shipbuilding Corporation.

Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, said that the service will receive Knyaz Oleg Borei-A submarine; and Kazan and Novosibirsk Yasen project submarines by the end of this year. Kazan is expected to be delivered to the Navy in May.

“This year, two strategic missile submarines Knyaz Potemkin and Dmitry Donskoy will also be laid down, the name of which will pass from the ship of the previous generation. It will continue to perform the tasks of testing new systems of weapons and equipment,” the official told defense ministry-owned Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.

In December, Russia’s Sevmash Shipyard said it has developed a new block-modular method to build nuclear submarines that could reduce the construction period by nearly 18 months. Sevmash is currently the only Russian enterprise that builds fourth-generation nuclear submarines: Project 955 and Project 955A Borei-class and Project 885 Yasen-class boats.

Borei-A submarines can carry 16 Bulava missiles and are armed with 533mm torpedo tubes. Compared to the baseline Borei series, Borei-A subs feature better acoustic stealth, maneuvering and deep-sea running capabilities and an improved armament control system.

The Navy’s Yasen–class submarines are built by St. Petersburg-based Malakhit Marine Engineering Bureau. Based on the Akula-class and Alfa-class, it is projected to replace Russia's Soviet-era nuclear attack submarines. They are armed with Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles, and will eventually carry Tsirkon hypersonic missiles as their basic weapons.