New Russian Subs Await Missiles

Aviation Week and Space Technology ^ | 1/12/2010 | Maxim Pyadushkin

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Development of strategic nuclear forces remains the top priority for the Russian military. Within the nuclear triad, the military has a big stake in reinforcing naval strategic forces, although the other two elements, ground-based missiles and strategic bombers, are also being modernized.

The navy accounts for approximately 40% of the defense ministry’s budget, according to Vice Premier Sergey Ivanov, who discussed spending in mid-2009. “It’s much more than is spent on strategic missile forces, space forces and the air force put together. It’s hundreds of billions of rubles,” he said, adding that the navy’s money will be mainly spent for procuring strategic nuclear submarines.

The Russian navy’s main program in this area is the construction of the strategic Borei-class (Project 955) submarines, each armed with 16 R-30 Bulava ICBMs with multiple warheads. These subs have a submerged displacement of 24,000 tons, submerged speed of 29 kt. and endurance of 90 days. The navy plans to have eight such submarines by 2017 to replace the aging fleet of Delta-IV-class boomers.

The first Borei-class sub, Yuri Dolgorukiy, was laid down in 1996 at the Severodvinsk Sevmash shipbuilding plant, but commenced its first sea trial in July 2009. The cost of construction is unofficially estimated to be 23 billion rubles ($760 million). The first Borei submarine was scheduled to enter service in 2009, though this has been delayed. Two more submarines of the class—Vladimir Monomakh and Alexander Nevsky—are being built at Sevmash. According to Sevmash officials, the keel of the fourth submarine was to be laid down on Dec. 22, the day Sevmash celebrated its 70th jubilee. It will reportedly be the first of the improved Borei-A class.

[TheUndead]

The O-man is sure to cut funding for the development of our new sub.

[Primorsky]

Amazing photo. Big boomer (Typhoon class, "Dmitriy Donskoi") and mini boomer (Borei class, "Yuri Dolgorukiy", in front) Yuriy meet Dmitriy

[Primorsky]

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