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Three submarines soon ready for service

Sevmash shipyard believes 2013 will be even more busy than 2012. (Photo: sevmash.ru)

Russia speeds up construction of new nuclear-powered submarines. Sevmash shipyard has three new submarines that soon will be ready for delivery to the Russian Navy.

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Russia’s state orders for 2013 on new nuclear-powered submarines are now under preparation. Shipyards like the giant Sevmash in Severodvinsk expect to have even more work than they have had in 2012, Sevmash’ web site reads. 

Sevmash boasts to have three new submarines ready to be handed over to the orderer:

Yury Dolgoruky”, which is the first vessel of the new fourth generation Borey-class strategic submarines, has undergone all necessary tests and the Sevmash is now ready to sign the acceptance delivery statement with the navy. 

The date for delivery to the navy has been changed several times. After “Yury Dolgoruky’s” second successful launch of the “Bulava” missile in September 2011, then Prime Minsiter Vladimir Putin said it would be ready for delivery by the end of that year, as BarentsObserver reported. The date was later changed to June 2012 and then to august 2012. The submarine has been undergoing periodically tests in the White Sea since November 2010.

The second submarine of the Borey-class “Aleksandr Nevsky”, is currently undergoing sea trials and will have its final state delivery test in December, according to Sevmash. 

“Aleksander Nevsky” has not yet fired a single “Bulava” missile. The submarine will probably have to had a least two successful launches before it can be handed over to the navy, so the date for delivery is uncertain.

To other Borey-class submarines are under different stages of construction at Sevmash.

The third submarine that is more or less ready to leave Sevmash is “Severodvinsk”, the first of the new multipurpose attack submarine class “Yasen” (NATO name Graney). Construction of this vessel started in 1993 but was halted due to problems in financing the project. In 2003 the project received additional funding and the work of finishing the submarine continued. “Severodvinsk” is currently undergoing sea trials and fired its first Caliber cruise missile in the beginning of October, as BarentsObserver reported.

Russia has signed a contract for 4 Yasen class submarines to be delivered by 2016.