Russia's Knyaz Vladimir, Kazan Nuclear Subs To Enter Service In 2019 - Defense Ministry

Project 955A (Borei II-class) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Knyaz Vladimir and Project 885M (improved Yasen-class) Kazan nuclear-powered attack submarine will enter service with the Russian Navy in 2019, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th October, 2018) Project 955A (Borei II-class) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Knyaz Vladimir and Project 885M (improved Yasen-class) Kazan nuclear-powered attack submarine will enter service with the Russian Navy in 2019, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"The Knyaz Vladimir and the Kazan are currently undergoing trials and are set to enter service with the Russian Navy in 2019," the ministry said in a statement.

The Knyaz Vladimir is the first submarine of the improved Borei II class. In comparison with the Borei-class, the Borei II-class submarines are fitted with four additional ballistic missile tubes, boast smaller hulls, and feature improved acoustics and "detection signature" levels, among other technical improvements.

All Borei-class subs are armed with Bulava (RSM-56) intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), each capable of carrying with up to 10 independently-targetable nuclear warheads.

According to open sources, the Kazan submarine is fitted with 10 vertical launch cells, which can carry 32 Kalibr (SS-N-27/30 Sizzler) or Oniks (SS-N-26 Strobile) cruise missiles, and eight torpedo tubes. The vessel is capable of anti-submarine, anti-ship, and land-attack missions. Russia plans to build a total of seven Project 885M submarines.