Project 949A: Oscar-II

@Podlodka77

The Project 949A (Antey) multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the Pacific Fleet "Tomsk" is undergoing repairs and modernization at one of the enterprises of the Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center (DTSSS). This was reported to TASS by a source in the shipbuilding industry.

The interlocutor of the agency did not specify the scope of work, but it is known that two submarines of this type are being repaired and upgraded to project 949AM at the Far Eastern Plant (DVZ) Zvezda - Irkutsk and Chelyabinsk.

This is logical, if you want to increase the number of submarines in the Pacific fleet you cannot decommission the submarines, you have to keep the ones you already have in operation while you receive new submarines that increase the total number

Of course the Pacific Fleet will receive at least 5 Borey's and 5 Yasen's
However , in Pacific Fleet there are not enough Akulas left to make a Sub Division with just them, you need to add several 949AMs to cover the gap while the new SSNs arrive in the next decade.

At least 3 Akulas will still be in the Pacific Fleet when restored, maybe even 4
Therefore several 949AM will have to remain in service, from 2 to 4.

There is also the possibility that the Tomsk will become a twin of Belgorod and be converted to carry Poseidon.

Anyway the Irkutsk should be in operation soon, should be in trials and enter in service in 2023 and Chelyabisnk in 2025 as much

What is interesting, the real operational advantages of those subs is getting less and less relevant, as 949 and 971 will both be Zircon carriers after the modernization. What brings the attack perimeter up to 1000+ km. Those subs can operate under full cover of shore aviation and own ASW means, just fire the missiles. That is well enough to keep any potential strike group well away from the Russkie shores. Far enough to make the dec aviation useless, and Tomahawks exposed for interception for a very long time.

To AMCXXL

I think the next 971 "Schchuka-B" submarines will be in service for some time in Pacific ;
1. K-331 "Ex-Magadan" (14.03.1991 included in the PF) ; this submarine is currently being overhauled. That submarine will likely receive an operational life extension.
2. K-419 "Kuzbass" (30.01.1993) ; it has been operational since March 2016 after the overhaul and partial modernization was completed. This means that the submarine will certainly remain operational until 2026. After that, an overhaul that would extend the life of the submarine for another year is not excluded, but modernization to the 971M project is certainly not under consideration.
3. K-295 "Samara" (29.12.1995); Project 971M submarine, modernization underway.
4. K-152 "Nerpa" (29.12.2009) ; there is currently no information about the further fate of this submarine, which is the last submarine of project 971 ever built in the "Amur" shipyard. It is the youngest 971 submarine and has been operational since 2009.

I would not like to guess what will be the final number of 885M "Yasen-M" submarines built because no one knows that, just as no one knows the final number of "Yasen-M" and "Borei-A" submarines in the NF and PF.
I'm not really sure that "Tomsk" will be converted into the 09852 project, that is, on the model of "Belgorod", because it would certainly take too long.



To Arrow

I think it's still 48 missiles in total. I think that is more than enough for a submarine project that is certainly not new.

@Podlodka77

1. K-331 "Ex-Magadan" (14.03.1991 included in the PF) ; this submarine is currently being overhauled. That submarine will likely receive an operational life extension.
2. K-419 "Kuzbass" (30.01.1993) ; it has been operational since March 2016 after the overhaul and partial modernization was completed. This means that the submarine will certainly remain operational until 2026. After that, an overhaul that would extend the life of the submarine for another year is not excluded, but modernization to the 971M project is certainly not under consideration.
3. K-295 "Samara" (29.12.1995); Project 971M submarine, modernization underway.
4. K-152 "Nerpa" (29.12.2009) ; there is currently no information about the further fate of this submarine, which is the last submarine of project 971 ever built in the "Amur" shipyard. It is the youngest 971 submarine and has been operational since 2009.

I would not like to guess what will be the final number of 885M "Yasen-M" submarines built because no one knows that, just as no one knows the final number of "Yasen-M" and "Borei-A" submarines in the NF and PF.
I'm not really sure that "Tomsk" will be converted into the 09852 project, that is, on the model of "Belgorod", because it would certainly take too long.

K-295 Kuzbass was upgraded to 971U, the K-331 will be also 971U
However Kuzbass have been more years in service while K-331 and K-295 have been a lot of years in reserve waiting overhaul

About Nerpa, deepstorm.ru said the Russian goverment refused extend the hire of the submarine , probably they want Nerpa for Russian Navy, and for that the Bratsk was decommisioned

The total number of Yasen or Boreis are not well know, but anyway, Pacific will have a Submarine Division of at least 5 Borey´s and one Submarine Division of at least 5 Yasen´s, these are the words of Pacific Fleet Admiral
In fact in december of 2023 Pacific Fleet will receive its 5th Borey

There is not much difference between whether the 12 Borey's are divided 6+6 between the Northern Fleet and the Pacific Fleet or the distribution is 7+5, although I bet for the last

The 3rd Submarine Division of the Pacific Fleet will be formed with a mix of Akulas and 949AM, I frankly hope it will be 4 Akulas and 4 949AM, to be replaced by 8 new SSN's in the future

Belgorod will most likely be unique, one-of-a-kind, built partly as a full-scale testbed, & partly as a special services boat for GUGI activities.  IMHO the future Poseidon-carriers will be Khabarovsk-class Project 09851.

Kharbarovsk fits the mould for Poseidon utilised for counterforce strategic (or other?) duties, but Belgorod is an odd fish, and nuke doomsday super-torps don't seem to mesh well with her role as a mothership for deep diving manned spysubs? Thats why i suspect that Belgorods Poseidons are intended to be conventionally-armed variants for use in survellaince or tactical engagements.  Belgorod might be intended to launch and recover Poseidons for activities like spy missions or trials for using heavy autonomous UUVs to hunt and kill carriers.  It would be a great advantage to be able to carry a deep-diving recovery submersible like a X-Ray when testing Poseidons.  A failed test article can be recovered from depth rather than abandoned on the seabed to run the risk of theiving sea-gypsies (aka NATOstani pirates) of making off with it.

Mr. Shoigu in Zvezda
Inside the plant there are one 949A in modernization, probably CHelyabisnk
The other you can see in satellite images should be the Irkutsk and modernization should be near completion

"Sergei Shoigu checked the execution of the state defense order at the Zvezda plant in Primorye. An Izd.23380 floating dock for nuclear submarines. Progress of repairs and modernization of nuclear submarines Izd.949AM"

Does anyone knows why upgrades are taking this long? Irkutsk has been out of service for over 10 years.

Waiting for new missiles would be my very first guess.

caveat emptor wrote:Does anyone knows why upgrades are taking this long? Irkutsk has been out of service for over 10 years.

there are not any upgrade for ten years. The subnarines were in reserve . Overhaul started 2019 or 2020 in the first

The pace of work will depend on the number of workers available.
Zvezda is overloaded with work and Soviet submarines have not been a priority until now.

The Pacific fleet will receive 5 Borei and 5 Yasen. The rest necessary will be to keep half a dozen Soviet submarines in operation until a replacement arrives.