Latest Russian Nuclear Sub Hits target 1,000 km Away with Kalibr Cruise Missile

A Kalibr cruise missile launched by Russian Navy’s Project 885M Kazan nuclear submarine in the White Sea hit a target at Chizha Test Range in Arkhangelsk Region located 1,000 km away.

"Today, the lead ship of the Yasen-M project Kazan successfully fired its main missile system at a coastal target. The firing took place within the final stage of state trials from the White Sea. The target, located over 1,000 kilometers away at the Chiza proving ground in the Arkhangelsk Region, was successfully hit by the Kalibr cruise missile warhead," Northern Fleet press service announced on Monday.

On November 21, the vessel entered the final trial stage with its regular crew and commissioning team onboard. The crew will practice surface and underwater maneuvering at various depths, and will check the ship’s main systems, including weapons.

In August, a source told TASS during Army-2020 Forum that Project 885M submarines will be armed with upgraded Kalibr-M missiles having range of over 4,000 km in future.

This class of boats are built by St. Petersburg-based Malakhit Marine Engineering Bureau. Based on the Akula-class and Alfa-class, it is projected to replace Russia's Soviet-era nuclear attack submarines. They are armed with Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles, and will eventually carry Tsirkon hypersonic missiles as their basic weapons.

Yasen-class submarines are the first Russian SSNs/SSGNs to be equipped with a fourth-generation nuclear reactor. The reactor will reportedly have a 25-30 year core life and will not have to be refuelled.