Russia’s Pacific Fleet Expands with New Sub

Alexander Nevsky, Russian Navy’s nuclear ballistic missile submarine, arrived in the port of Vilyuchinsk, in the Kamchatka Peninsula on September 30, 2015.

This second vessel of the fourth generation Borei class (Project 955A) was built by Sevmash shipyard in the northern city of Severodvinsk. Initially planned to be launched in 2009, the vessel encountered both budgetary and Bulava missile issues which pushed the date of its launch significantly. Despite the delays, officials stated that the vessel was completed on time.

With few differences from the lead ship of the class, SSBN Yury Dolgorukiy, this new sub is estimated to have cost around $900 million.

Russia expects to renew its submarine fleet with a total of eight Borei class submarines. With Yury Dolgorukiy serving in the Northern Fleet since January 2013, and Alexander Nevsky now joining the Pacific Fleet, the Navy’s two future submarines, namely Vladimir Monomakh and Knyaz Vladimir, are conducting final trials.

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Naval Today Staff, Image: Russian Ministry of Defence