New Russian Nuclear Submarine Completes Sea Trails

Russia’s new nuclear-powered submarine, the Alexander Nevsky has completed sea trials, keeping up with the Borey-class project schedule, the Sevmash shipyard were quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.  

In early September, Russia put on hold the trials of two Borey-class submarines following an unsuccessful launch of a Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also ordered that the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monomakh submarines, designed to carry the Bulava, hold five additional launches of the troubled SLBM, the report said.

The Alexander Nevsky was expected to be handed over to the Navy on November 15, while the other Borey-class sub was due to be commissioned in mid-December, Sevmash chief Mikhail Budnichenko said in July. However, the adoption of both of those submarines depends on the success of the Bulava test launches.

Including that latest failure, eight out of 19 or 20 test launches of the troubled Bulava have been officially declared unsuccessful. The Russian military has repeatedly stated that there is no alternative to the Bulava, the report added. 

The three-stage Bulava carries up to 10 MIRV warheads, has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) and is designed for deployment on Borey-class nuclear submarines.

Sevmash added Russia’s first Project 885M Yasen-class attack submarine, the Severodvinsk, would start final trials in the White Sea next month.