The Russian Navy has put its first Borey-class ballistic missile nuclear submarine, Yury Dolgoruky, into operational service.
Construction of the Project 955 Borey-class Yury Dolgoruky submarine cost a total of $713m, which included $280m for research and development.
Powered by an OK-650 nuclear reactor, AEU steam turbine, a shaft and propeller, the Sevmash shipyard-built Yury Dolgoruky submarine has a hull diameter of 13m, a depth of 450m and can cruise at a speed of 29k, while accommodating a crew of 107.
The 170m-long submarine is capable of carrying up to 16 ballistic missiles and torpedoes, including the Bulava (SS-NX-30) sea-based submarine-launched weapon.
Designed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, the Bulava replaces the R-39 solid-fuel submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
Project 955 involves construction of four Borey-class submarines the Russian Navy in Yury Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky, Vladimir Monomakh and Knyaz Vladimir.
Expected to form the core of the country’s strategic submarine fleet, the Borey class boats will replace the existing Project 941 (NATO Typhoon class) and Project 667 class (Delta-3 and Delta-4) submarines.
The second submarine of the class, Alexander Nevsky (K-550) is currently undergoing sea trials and is scheduled to join the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet by 2014, reports RIA Novosti.
Russia intends to construct about eight Borey and Borey-A class submarines in the next seven years.
Meanwhile, Sevmash shipyard has also floated out the third Borey-class submarine, Vladimir Monomakh.
In addition, Russia is planning to procure ten Graney-class nuclear attack submarines, as well as 20 diesel-electric submarines and six Varshavyanka-class vessels.
Image: Illustration of Russian Navy’s Borey-class submarine. Photo: file image.
