Russian Navy receives modernized nuclear-powered submarine

Zvezda shipyard (Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center) held a ceremony to mark the end of the overhaul period of the Russian Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine “Kuzbass”

CEO of Zvezda shipyard Yuri Filchenok and Acting Armaments Commander, Pacific Fleet, Rear Admiral Igor Korolev, signed the acceptance/delivery papers at the pier during the ceremony.

The Project 971 submarine was laid down July 28, 1991 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and launched May 18, 1992. The Kuzbass entered service with the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet on February 5, 1993 and operated in the Pacific and the Arctic.

The Russian Navy is currently in the process of modernizing 12 nuclear-powered submarines. According to IHS Jane’s Navy International, the boats will receive new armament and have their service life extended for another 20 years.

In September 2015, Russian media reported the Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu saying that there were six submarines currently undergoing the modernization process.

In a May 27, 2015 statement, the Russian Navy said it was expecting to receive two modernized nuclear submarines, “Kuzbass” and “Ryazan” by end 2015.