After nine years of construction, Russia has launched the nuclear submarine K-563 "Ulyanovsk" of Project 885M "Yasen-M", which can carry up to 40 Kalibr cruise missiles or 32 Zircon hypersonic missiles. This was reported by Defence Express, writes UNN.
Details
The launching ceremony took place in Severodvinsk. Construction of the submarine began on July 28, 2017, and lasted exactly nine years. However, the vessel is not yet ready for service — it still requires completion afloat, testing, and commissioning into the fleet.
Submarines of Project 885M "Yasen-M" are equipped with eight universal launch systems, which can accommodate up to 40 3M-14 Kalibr cruise missiles or up to 32 3M-22 Zircon or P-800 Oniks missiles. Additionally, the submarine has ten 533-mm torpedo tubes with a combat load of up to 30 torpedoes.
Russia plans to increase the number of Yasen-M project submarines
According to Defence Express, nuclear submarines of this type have a length of 139 meters, a displacement of 13,800 tons, a crew of 90 people, an autonomy of up to 100 days, and can dive to a depth of up to 600 meters. The maximum underwater speed is about 57 km/h.
Currently, the Russian armed forces have four nuclear submarines of Project 885M "Yasen-M" and one of Project 885 "Yasen". Two more submarines have already been launched but are not yet in service, three are under construction, and another is planned to be laid down. In total, Russia intends to form a fleet of 11 submarines of the Yasen and Yasen-M family, which are to gradually replace Soviet nuclear submarines.