Russian Navy to Decommission Delta IV-class Nuclear Submarine in 2022

The Russian Navy will decommission a 36-year-old Delta IV (Project 667BDRM Delfin) strategic nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine next year.

"In 2022, the Yekaterinburg submarine will be withdrawn from the Northern Fleet’s combat structure and sent for disposal," a source in the domestic defense industry was quoted as saying by state-owned TASS on Wednesday.

K-84 Yekaterinburg was laid down at Sevmash Shipyard (currently part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation) in 1982, floated out in 1984 and accepted for service two years later.

This boat was the second of the seven-boat Project 667BDRM Delfin class, which was developed at the Rubin Design Bureau in September 1975. It was designed to carry 16 R-29RM Shtil (NATO designation: SS-N-23 Skiff) SLBM for use against military and industrial facilities in the case of a nuclear war. Each Shtil missile carries ten 100 kt multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles, and has a circular error probable of 500 metres. It is also equipped with RPK-7 Veter (NATO designation: SS-N-16 Stallion) anti-ship missiles for use against large surface vessels, and self-defense torpedoes.

The submarine has carried out test launches of several ICBMs including Sineva and Lainer ICBMs.

On December 29, 2011, the submarine caught fire while staying in the floating dry dock. The submarine had its ammunition load at the time of the incident. After three-year repairs, the Yekaterinburg rejoined the Fleet and its service life was extended by five years.