Silent sub: Russian noiseless Borei class nuclear submarine immersed

Borei class nuclear submarine Vladimir Monomah at the “Sevmash” shipyard before its launch in Severodvinsk. (RIA Novosti/A. Petrov)

Super-modern, powerful and almost noiseless Russian nuclear submarine Vladimir Monomakh has been put in water to become the third ship of the Borei project. The cruiser is about to begin sea trials and mooring to become fully operational in 2013.

Vladimir Monomakh was laid down at Russia’s largest shipbuilding complex Sevmash, located on the shores of the White Sea in the town of Severodvinsk in northern Russia on March 19, 2006 – the 100th anniversary of the Russian submarine fleet.

Length: 170 m
 Beam: 13.5 m
 Draught: 10 m
 Test depth: 450 m
 Displacement:
 14,720 tons surfaced
 24,000 tons submerged
 Speed: 29 knots (54 km/h)
 Complement: 107 (55 officers)
 Armament: 16-20 × Bulava SLBMs
 6 × 533 mm torpedo tubes

It belongs to a class of missile strategic submarine cruisers with a new generation of nuclear reactor, which allows the submarine to dive to a depth of 480 meters. It can spend up to three months in autonomous navigation and, thanks to the latest achievements in the reduction of noise, it is almost silent compared to previous generations of submarines. The submarine is armed with the new missile system, which has from 16 to 20 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles Bulava (SS-NX-30 by NATO classification). The rocket is able to overcome any prospective missile defense system.

On August 27, 2011, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on a successful test of Bulava to investigate its maximum range. The missile was launched from the White Sea, flew 9,300km in just 33 minutes, and then fell in the specified area in the Pacific Ocean.

All Borei class submarines are equipped with a floating rescue chamber designed to fit in the whole crew.

The first and head submarine of Borei class, Yury Dolgoruky, has already completed the test program and is to be officially adopted by the Russian Navy on Sunday. Construction of the missile carrier is approximately estimated at around US$770 million, while other Borei class submarines are believed to cost less.

“The hoisting of the flag and the signing of the acceptance act is to be adopted at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk on Sunday, December 30,” the Rubin design bureau that designed the submarine said in a statement on Saturday.

Another missile cruiser of this project, the Aleksandr Nevsky, is undergoing tests, according to Borisov. While a fourth, more advanced submarine, the Knyaz Vladimir, with enhanced technical characteristics and increased ammunition is currently being built.

Over the next eight years Russia plans to have built 10 Borei class submarines altogether, according to the state armaments program of 2011-2020. All Borei class submarines are believed to provide a basis of naval strategic nuclear forces of Russia in the coming decades.

The nuclear submarine (NS) "Yuri Dolgoruky" in the area of the JSC "Sevmash". (RIA Novosti)

Moreover, nuclear submarines generate a substantial and irreducible level of noise due to reactor cooling pumps.

Um...no. Primary coolant pumps are centrifugal pumps, and use the same sound/vibration isolation mounting technology as any other piece of equipment in the engine room...both US and Russian boats. Besides...in some reactor plant designs you don't need running main coolant pumps when doing quiet ops.

One can hope, but in my dealings with them I have never been one to want to under estimate Russian ingenuity nor resourcefulness. Given where things are with the US it makes things “interesting”.

Not much information is available as to the noise levels of submarines, but the Federation of American Scientists website explains that a nuclear submarine's reactor "continues working and this is an additional source of noise" and that even "within a 'quiet' mode the difference in noise level between strategic nuclear submarines and diesel submarines, which were developed at the same time, is 10 dB."

In addition to the limitations of Russian manufacturing technologies, it is reported by the FAS that "Russian SSBNs are double-hulled, with double reactors and double shafts. This design guarantees great reliability, but, inevitably, at a sacrifice to the submarine's covertness."

I also note that the first few of the Borei class are built on old Akula hulls, which suggests a lesser level of noise suppression for those subs at least.

The best Russians are clever and resourceful -- but their society is deeply wounded, their government is a dysfunctional kleptocracy, and their military and associate industrial base are in decline. As a matter of essential state interest, the Russian government aims to have enough secure, deliverable nuclear weapons for deterrence to be considered a significant power. For that limited purpose, the Borei class ballistic missile subs will do, even if noisy by today's standards.

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