Russia Accelerates Yasen-Class Submarine Plan

Russia is accelerating its plan to built seven Yasen class nuclear submarine by 2023 with second one being floated out today and third scheduled for launch in 2019.

The nation's second modernised Yasen-class project 885M submarine, the Kazan, has been floated out at the Sevmash shipbuilder in north-western Russia today. Similarly "The third one we plan to float out, according to the plant's plan, in 2019," Navy Commander Adm. Vladimir Korolev was quoted as saying by Sputnik news.

Moreover, Russia's sixth and final Yasen-M class submarine, the Ulyanovsk, will be laid down this year. "The first, lead ship we are laying down today. The next four ships have been laid down, their construction is continuing. The last and sixth vessel which will be called 'Ulyanovsk' we are laying down this year," Korolev said.

Russia plans to have at least eight Yasen class cruise-missile carrying attack vessels in its submarine fleet. The submarines were designed by the St. Petersburg Naval Bureau of Machine-Building Malakhit.

Currently, the Russian Navy is equipped with one Yasen-class submarine, the Severodvinsk. The Severodvinsk has a submerged displacement of 13,800 tons, a length of 119 meters, can travel up to 31 knots, and can dive to 600 meters.

Severodvinsk was delivered on June 17, 2014 and remained in the experimental operation phase till the spring of 2016.