The Russian Navy’s latest ‘Special Mission’ submarine, K-329 Belgorod, has put to sea for the first time. Open source intelligence seen by Naval News indicates that the submarine left Severodvinsk on June 25 2021. This represents the start of sea trials which are critical to the delivery of the new boat to the Russian Navy.
Although detailed specifications have not been revealed it is clear that Belgorod is the largest submarine to be built for 30 years. In fact the only submarine type which is larger is the Typhoon Class. Her enlarged Oscar-II class submarine hull is estimated to be 178 meters (584 feet) long and about 15 meters (49 feet) across. Her displacement will likely be significantly more than the ~19,000 tons of the Oscar-II class on which she is based. This is bigger in every respect than the largest Western submarine, the U.S. Navy’s Ohio Clas.
STRATEGY for the Development of Maritime Activities of the Russian Federation until 2030
30 August 2019
This document is not a strategy in the sense that western strategy writers well-versed
in an “ends-ways-means” approach might recognize. Rather, it presents an assessment of the challenges that Russia must overcome in order to achieve the goals laid out in the earlier documents. It also outlines measures to assess Russian progress in overcoming these challenges. While this Strategy builds on the concepts and goals outlined in the previous publications, it differs from them in that it examines where the impediments lie.
For example, it identifies specific shortcomings, especially regarding what it sees as an insufficient industrial base, an outdated civilian nuclear fleet, low levels of maritime transportation, and the poor state of the civilian fishing fleet and associated infrastructure.
Finally, the strategy also provides a list of indicators that can assist with assessments of how effectively Moscow is achieving its maritime goals.
Russian translation news! The @NavalWarCollege Russia Maritime Studies Institute has just completed an unofficial translation
https://twitter.com/Mi_Petersen38/status/1407742534655348740