New Russian Sub Successfully Fires First Cruise Missile

Russia's latest submarine, the Project 855 Severodvinsk, has successfully fired its first cruise missile at a land target during sea trials, according to local media reports. "The multi-role nuclear-powered submarine Severodvinsk fired a supersonic cruise missile at a land target for the first time during sea trials in the White Sea. The target was successfully destroyed," a shipyard official was quoted as saying. "This is of course a big achievement for the shipyard and United Shipbuilding as a whole. Manufacturers' trials are drawing to a close and the boat will soon start state acceptance trials," he said. The Severodvinsk can carry a crew of 90 including 32 officers and has a submerged displacement of 13,800 tons, length of 119 meters, speed of 31 knots, and can dive to 600 meters. Its main armament consists of 3M55 Oniks (SS-N-26) and 3M54 (SS-N-27) Kalibr cruise missiles and conventional torpedos, rocket-torpedos and mines.