The Russian Navy’s second Project 885-M Yasen M-class multipurpose nuclear-powered
attack submarine Novosibirsk was launched and put to water on December 25th.
An official ceremony was held in the Semash shipyard.
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov stated, “The strategic and
multipurpose nuclear submarines that the Navy is equipped with embody the best scientific
achievements in the field of domestic submarine shipbuilding.”
In his speech, the commander of the White Sea Naval Base, Konstantin Kabantsov, emphasized
that “Novosibirsk is a modern warship that meets all the requirements and has unique
combat capabilities.
The ships of this series are capable of solving a wide range of tasks to defeat underwater,
surface and ground targets.
"
“Novosibirsk” was laid down in July 2013 and is expected to enter service by the end
of 2020.
Yasen is one submarine class that the U.S military was concerned about.
Some time back U.S.Navy’s top submarine officers, Rear Admiral Dave Johnson stated,
"We’ll be facing tough potential opponents.
One only has to look at the Severodvinsk, [first vessel of Yasen class], Russia’s
version of a nuclear guided missile submarine (SSGN).”
He was so impressed with this ship that he had built a model from unclassified data so
that he could look at it every day on his way to his office”.
In this video Defense Updates reports on the deployment of Yasen M class nuclear-powered
attack submarine Novosibirsk.
Let’s get into the details.
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Novosibirsk is the second boat of Yasen M class.
The first was named Kazan.
Yasen-M is intended as a substantial improvement, based on the lessons learned from the lengthy
development, construction, and testing process for the original Yasen class.
Yasen-M design is reportedly quieter than the lead Yasen-class boat.
It is built with low magnetic steel to reduce its magnetic signature which will make it
much harder to detect.
The Yasen class, unlike older Soviet vessels, are multi-mission boats similar to American
Seawolf or Virginia classes.
The Yasen-M class vessels are 120 meters long, have a submerged displacement of 13,800 tons.
They are designed to dive to a maximum depth of 600 meters.
Each ship of this class is designed to operate independently for up to 100 days.
Unlike previous Russian submarines that have a double hull, this class of submarines only
have a single hull.
Novosibirsk has a high level of automation is built into the submarine and can operate
with only 85 personnel.
It is powered by a single OK-650KPM two-hundred-megawatt nuclear reactor.
The reactor is will not need refueling till the end of life of the submarine.
As per reports, the sub can reach a speed of 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) when surfaced.
In submerged condition, it has a speed 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph) when operating silently
and a max speed of 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Yasen M is the first Russian submarine class to be equipped with a spherical sonar.
Novosibirsk's sensor suite consists of an Irtysh-Amfora sonar system, with a bow-mounted
spherical sonar array, flank sonar arrays and a towed array for rearward detection.
It has a MRK-50 Albatross (Snoop Pair) navigation/surface search radar.
It also has Rim Hat electronic support/countermeasures suite.
Yasen M class has 10 VLS (Vertical Launch System) silos which are 2 more than original
Yasen.
The 10 VLS silos of Novosibirsk can carry 40 [ 10 x 4 ]P-800 Oniks missile.
It is one of the most deadly anti-ship missiles today.
P-800 Oniks also known as Yakhont is a supersonic anti-ship cruise missile, capable of speed
up to Mach 2.5 and has a range of 600 km or 373 miles.
It has a robust guidance system.
Onik is a fire-and-forget missile, which means that Novosibirsk can maneuver safely after
launching the missile.
At the beginning of its flight, the P-800 uses satellite guidance, and towards the end,
it actively tracks its target with radar.
P-800 has a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of just 1.5 meters.
It is important to note that some variants of Oniks can have a nuclear warhead.
The 10 VLS silos can be used to deploy 50 [ 10 x 5 ] different variants of Kalibr missile.
Some variants of Kalibr are equivalent to the American Tomahawk cruise missile in many
parameters such as range, warhead, and propulsion.
These have a range of 2500 km or 1554 miles range, are equipped with a 450 kg or 1000
pound high-explosive warhead and are powered by a turbofan engine.
Similar to Tomahawk, they have a speed of Mach 0.8.
There are some variants of the missile that have second stage propulsion enabling a supersonic
sprint in the terminal approach to the target which reduces the reaction time.
Kalibr like Oniks can be armed with nuclear warheads.
Due to the large size of this spherical array, the torpedo tubes are slanted.
In other words, the torpedo tube outer doors are not located in the immediate bow as in
the previous Akula class but moved aft.
Novosibirsk’s design accommodates 10 650 mm torpedo tubes
The tubes can be used to carry 30 [ 10 x 3 ] heavyweight torpedoes.
These can be equipped with Type 65 torpedo.
It was developed for use against US Navy aircraft carrier battle groups, as well as large merchant
targets such as supertankers and advanced enemy submarines.
The torpedo has a range of 100 km or 62 miles.
It is equipped with a 550 kg (1212 lbs) warhead.
A single hit from this torpedo can potentially sink a large warship.
Novosibirsk is a potent submarine that has most areas covered.
Russia plans to build a total of 7 Yasen class submarines.
4 of these - Krasnoyarsk, Arkhangelsk, Perm & Ulyanovsk are currently under construction,
at the Sevmash shipyards.
The fleet will give a massive boost to the Russian undersea force.
Their addition will be a major concern for the Russian rival including the US Navy going
forward.
Reports indicate that these submarines will be equipped with hypersonic Zircon missiles
which will make them even more deadly.
Russia’s growing state-of-the-art submarine fleet is apparently generating anxiety among
the US military.
In June 2016, Vice Admiral James Foggo 3, commander of the US 6th Fleet, wrote in the
June issue of the US Naval Institute’s magazine that, “an effective, skilled, and technologically
advanced Russian submarine force is challenging” NATO’s maritime dominance.
Not only is Russia developing more powerful submarines but it is also deploying them in
more patrols.
Admiral Vladimir Korolyov, the commander-in-chief of the Russian navy, had said his submarine
crews spent more than 3,000 days under the water in 2016 alone.
He added Russian subs are patrolling the seas at levels last seen during the Cold War.
It can be conceived that Russia’s undersea fleet is seeing a resurgence.