Russia to Lay Down New Project Borei-A Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarines in 2012

In 2012 Russia starts construction of advanced Project Borei-A nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), reported RIA Novosti referring to Director General of Sevmash shipyard and Rubin design bureau Andrei Diachkov.

At present, Sevmash builds three Project 955 Borei submarines designed by the Rubin bureau, i.e. SSBN Yury Dolgoruky, SSBN Alexander Nevsky, and SSBN Vladimir Monomakh. In total, it is planned to build eight subs of projects Borei and Borei-A. “No new subs will be laid down in this year. We plan in the next year to lay a keel for the Borei-A project lead submarine, i.e. improved Borei. That will be the fourth sub of the project. State Arms Program 2011-2020 provides keel-laying of fifth and sixth hulls in 2012”, Diachkov said.

He specified that the contract for construction of the Borei-A lead submarine (unofficially named Svyatitel Nikolai) was tied with defense ministry in Nov 2011. The contracts for fifth and sixth hulls will be signed in the first quarter of 2012. Currently, the prices are being calculated for further defense ministry’s approval. Pre-contract preparations are in progress since early Sept. “We expect to sign contracts for new subs and obtain financing in the first quarter of the next year”, said the Sevmash‘s director.

Project 955 Borei was developed by Rubin design bureau (St. Petersburg). The first sub SSBN Yury Dolgoruky was laid down at Sevmash on Nov 2, 1996. Having the length of about 170 meters, beam of 13.5 meters, and full displacement of 24,000 tons, the submarine will be armed with 12 Bulava-30 missiles designed by Moscow Thermotechnics Institute. Missiles of this type carry up to 10 independently-targetable nuclear warheads with improved missile defense overcoming capabilities. Flight range of SLBM Bulava is 8,000 km. Except for ballistic missiles, the submarine is armed with 533-mm torpedo tubes. Nuclear powerplant propels one screw and makes possible to accelerate up to 15 knots on surface and up to 29 knots under water.

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Naval Today Staff , December 08, 2011