Project 955: Borei class SSBN

Knyaz Vladimir (Prince Vladimir).......Hmmmm, Knyaz Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin

Jokes aside. I like the name more than the Svyatitel Nicholas (Saint Nicholas) that was earlier rumored.

Russia to Lay Down Fourth Borei Class Sub July 30

Russia's fourth Borei class (Project 955A) ballistic missile submarine will be officially laid down at a ceremony on July 30, Russian Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Viktor Chirkov said on Thursday.

The Borei class is set to become the mainstay of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent fleet, replacing the ageing Project 941 (NATO Typhoon class) and Project 667 class (Delta-3 and Delta-4) boats.

"The official ceremony for laying down the Borei-class boat, named Knyaz Vladimir, will be held on Monday July 30," Chirkov said.

Three other Borei class boats are at various stages of development at the Sevmash shipyard on the Kola peninsula. Yury Dolgoruky is currently undergoing sea trials, whilst Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh are under construction.

The Borei class will be armed with the Bulava ballistic missile, which is also in the final stage of development and due to enter service on Yury Dolgoruky later this year.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20120726/174785532.html

GarryB wrote:their people simply don't want to converse with my people... perhaps you are having the same problem?

Everything is in the editing stage now. I'll get a look at the final images for inclusion tomorrow, but so far we've got many amusing things, including rebuilt RS-24 launch garrisons, the 53T6 test area, and the Voronezh BMEW radar in Armavir. June 2012 imagery of Severodvinsk showed pretty much nothing of note, unfortunately.

I tried to mark everything down to yet another in the standard series of Russian strategic forces upgrades, where new generations of systems replace older ones en masse. The intent was to show that this is basically business as usual and not some sort of super-evil post-Commie nuke buildup to threaten mankind.

Shipbuilders Postponed SSBN Yury Dolgoruky Delivery Date

Russian shipbuilders postponed delivery date of Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Yury Dolgoruky for Sept-Oct 2012, writes Kommersant referring to an insider. As was earlier expected, the ship was to join Russian Navy on July 29, 2012. The reason for putting off delivery date was the need for additional trials of the sub's weapons.

According to the source, shipbuilders want to make sure that Yury Dolgoruky would properly interface with its basic weapon, submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) R-30 Bulava – without fails. There will be no practical missile test launches. As was reported earlier, two Bulava launches would be carried out in the fall of 2012.

The military are interested in correct operation of all onboard systems so that they had to put up with the delivery postponing, a source in Russian Navy Main HQ told Kommersant. It was not specified, however, why shipbuilders failed to meet the deadlines. Probably, the delay is related to the need for additional tests of SLBM Bulava which is planned to be commissioned in Oct 2012.

Expectedly, the second Borei-class submarine – SSBN Alexander Nevsky – will be put in service in Dec 2012. Totally, Russian Navy is to receive eight Project 955 submarines by 2020.

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=15517

SSBN Yury Dolgoruky Proved Design Characteristics

Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Yury Dolgoruky will join Russian Navy in Sept 2012, president of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) Andrei Diachkov told Central Navy Portal. As for him, all design characteristics of the submarine have been already proved. In particular, this fact is supported by a document signed by Chief of Russian Navy Main HQ Alexander Tatarinov who heads the sub's acceptance board.

It was earlier expected that the submarine would be commissioned on July 29, 2012. The reason for postponing of delivery date was the need for additional tests of weapon systems.

Being interviewed by Central Navy Portal, Andrei Diachkov explained that September is the deadline for Moscow Thermotechnics Institute to complete all works on the sub's primary weapon, ballistic missile Bulava.

It is planned to deliver the second Borei-class submarine SSBN Alexander Nevsky in Dec 2012. Totally, Russian military expects to receive eight Project 955 strategic submarines by 2020.

SSBN Yury Dolgoruky (Project 955 Borei) displaces 14,700/24,000 tons. Dimensions are 170 x 13.5 x 9 meters. Test depth is 450 meters. Speed is 15/29 knots. Crew is 107 men including 55 officers. All Borei-class subs will be armed with new missile system Bulava.

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=15678

Thinking more on the 5 times lower noise level for Boeri over Akula-1 , that actually translates to a drop of 12-15 db which is keeping with the trend for any new generation submarine.

Boeri class would be atleast two times quiter than most modern Akula-2.

Considering a SSBN is suppose to evade and not confront and keep away from prying SSN , this reduction along with other technologies like better sonars , combat system , Communication , Hydrodynamics will make it a very tough target to detect even for USN most modern SSN.

Considering even Akula-2 is a very hard nut to track by USN ASW assets and by their own confession and Akula are designed to confront and evade and most likey to meet a SSN or other ASW assets.

I think with Boeri-A 955A class they would reduce the noise level by further 2-3 times keeping Akula-2 noise level reduction in mind as with respect to Akula-1.

Boeri class will remain one of the most silent SSBN in waters for a long time.

It would be interesting to see how the other modern SSBN like the French Le Tromp class and UK Vanguard compare with Borei both these class met with a collision recently and the reason was suppose to be their quiteness from passive means of detection

I found while i was scrolling through a blog discussion pity i did not bookmark it , here is what it said


ПЛ пр.955 имеют в 5 раз меньшую шумность, чем ПЛА пр.971 и пр.949А (заявление генерального директора ЦКБ "Рубин" А.А.Дьячкова, 21.12.2010 г.)

PL pr.955 are 5 times less noise than the PLA and pr.971 pr.949A (statement of Director General of CDB "Ruby" A.A.Dyachkova, 21/12/2010 city)

But looking at the trend between Victr-3 RTM and Akula-1 noise level reduction which was 4 times over Victor it does not surprise me, that Borei would have 5 times lower than Akula-1/Oscar-2 class

Delving deeper into the 5 times reduction achieved by Boeri SSBN over Akula-1 , Oscar-2

Check this ONI chart it lays Oscar-2 having better noise reduction over Akula-1

http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/nukes/images/chinasubsound.jpg


The interesting part is now Borei noise level is being compared to SSN Akula and Oscar-2 , Right during Soviet Days the SSN noise level was lower than SSBN.

For eg check this chart

What is known about the character of noise created by submarines?

Delta 4 is rated at 100 dB and Akula 90db

These chart might not be very accurate but it gives you an idea on how these subs stand.

A 5 times reduction in decibal would translate to 7 dB reduction.

That would put Borei Noise level to 83 db

Anything 80db is classified as very Silent Submarine from that chart.

So Borei is very close to be in very silent.

If past experience is any thing to go by the new upgrade variant of Subs like Akula-2 over Akula-1 achieves 3 times the noise reduction. That would translate to 4 dB reduction.

So I think 955A can achieve those further 4dB reduction getting to around 79-80 dB.

If you compare it to previous FAS article Delta 4 has 100 dB and Borei would be around 83 dB , which is a reduction of around 17 dB between generation of two SSBN.

Thats quite phenomenal but I suspect they needed such reduction in acoustic to be able to effectively deal with Western 4th Gen SSN like Virginia or Astute in open seas.

The recent statement by Russian Navy Chief that Russian SSBN will now patrol world ocean and wont be limited to Bastion patrol steams from the fact that they have a sub which is acoustically quiter to do such task.

I would be very hesitant to use that chart for anything, even relative comparison.

I would honestly be surprised if the smaller Astute can match the sound dampening the Virginia and Severodvinsk achieve.

TR1 wrote:I would be very hesitant to use that chart for anything, even relative comparison.

Dont use those chart numbers as Gospel Truth but more like trend and then try to co-relate it to USN ONI release showing trends in quitening.

Even Russian sources dont differ much on that front.

You would get a good idea on where Borei would stand without depending on the numbers of the chart or other sources.

The problem is there is no fixed number to pin when it comes to acoustic quitening , there are other factors that would infulence subs quitening in a specific environment like temperature , salinity of sea , wind condition , depth , surface layers etc these are very dynamic depending on the month of the year and could change drastically in few km distance add to that complexity these condition also varies on the ocean like barrent sea , Artic ,Atlantic , Indian ocean these condition would vary on month and time of day.

Hence you need huge amount of ocean data spread over many months and years to get a good picture of your surrounding to aid your sensors and that itself needs to be periodically updated.

Submarine is a very complex subject unlike aircraft where your RCS values wont vary much if you fly over american airspace or russian airpspace.

I would honestly be surprised if the smaller Astute can match the sound dampening the Virginia and Severodvinsk achieve.

Astute were designed to hunt the Akula/Shuka-B , so expect it to be as quiter as virgnia , infact in a latest exercise between USN Virginia and RN Astute some where in US water the Astute did well and came out top.


Smallness does not affect the acoustic condition as much they affect the ability to carry more weapons and consequently more people to man them , a small submarine can have same or better acoustic quality as big subs , where they would get hurt is the ability to carry large and different sensor array for eg their nose will be smaller and consequently the sonar array impacting detecting range , and their ability to carry less amount of weapons affects persistance in enemy territory in actual war.

Yasen is actually double hull sub so it appears to be always bigger than single hull US,UK sub but yasen carry more amount of weapons and can fit bigger and more varied sensor array , ofcourse they would cost more as big ness also impacts other areas like manning , power needs , food storage etc

A larger sub has more internal space for sound damping material.

Double hulled subs even more so because obviously if it is just empty air between the hulls the sub will become too buoyant so submerge.

A large subs yes but a double hull sub allows you to put up rubber/anechoic tiles on the four sides of hull , outhull top/down and inner/pressure hull top/down.

A double hull also give you the ability to design a more hydrodynamic outer hull and is not constrained by limitations of pressure hull and gives you more reserve buoyancy

Disadvatage is you carry a lot of dead weight along something you wont do with single hull subs

Check the updates on Boeri SSBN

http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-338.html

It confirm the news that A.A.Dyachkova of Rubin had made those statements on 5 times reduced noise levels over 971 and 949A class.

The 949A class is actually falls between 971 and Akula-2 of ONI estimates are to be believed.

The 995A on the other hand incorporates major changes good enough to be classified as new class.

improvements include a new 4th Gen Reactor ( the present Borei uses OK650V reactor of Akula-2 types ) , new spherical sonar as on Yasen , TT going back to accomodate it , 20 SLBM Bulava.
and as it was mentioned 50 % new equipment over 955 class.


I think the single biggest improvements for the Borei class is now its noise level is benchmarked against Russian SSN design and not against their SSBN design that itself improves the acoustic rating for these subs.

The Akula-2 was much quiter than Improved 688I and Borei are much quiter than Akula-2 atleast 2 times.

You can argue the same thing about Ohio and Seawolf and say that Sea Wolf is much quite than Ohio by 10-15 times ....The late model Improved LA was suppose to be quiter than Ohio SSBN.

Any way coming to the point I dont deny that Yasen or Seawolf or Astute might turn out to be more quiter than 955 or may be 955A might catch up with them.

As i mentioned before quitening is just one of the key parameter that determines the capability of submarine other equally critical factor are Crew Training ,Weapons & Sensors ,Tactics and Knowledge about the environmental acoustics in the area where submarine operate , Submarine Captains knowledge on hostile submarine weapons and tactics.

Its a complex set of system and no one single parameter would save your day if you are not good with others.

But compared to the last SSBN Delta 4 that Russia operated and still does the Borei has truly exceeding well acoustic quitening capabilities which agurs well for its Strategic Deterrence


BTW this is ONI estimates released in 1996 , Please remember that there were many Akula-2 commisioned after that and they were better then the previous model.

Crew of Borei

http://s017.radikal.ru/i421/1112/58/52036d1e2b9c.jpg

Austin wrote:Crew of Borei

http://s017.radikal.ru/i421/1112/58/52036d1e2b9c.jpg

Alexander Nevsky, to be precise.

First Borei-Class Sub to Serve in Northern Fleet

Lead nuclear submarine of Project 955 Borei SSBN Yury Dolgoruky will serve in Northern Fleet (NF); the second submarine, SSBN Alexander Nevsky will be based in Pacific Fleet (PF), said Anatoly Shlemov, head of state defense order department at United Shipbuilding Corporation.

"Pacific Fleet will receive the second sub, the lead one Yury Dolgoruky is meant for Northern Fleet", reports RIA Novosti citing Shlemov.

As for him, it was decided to station Borei-class nuclear-powered strategic submarines at two fleets, Northern and Pacific ones. At first, crews of the both subs will serve at NF, and then crew of SSBN Alexander Nevsky will start preparing for a transfer to PF via the Northern Sea Route.

"Normally, it takes a year", specified Shlemov.

SSBN Yury Dolgoruky (Project 955 Borei) displaces 14,700/24,000 tons. Dimensions are 170 x 13.5 x 9 meters; test depth is 450 meters; speed is 15/29 knots; complement is 107 men including 55 officers. All Borei-class subs will be armed by the new Bulava missile system. Each submarine will carry sixteen solid-propellant ballistic missiles Bulava-M with 10 independently targetable reentry vehicles.

SLBM Bulava was designed by Moscow Thermotechnics Institute. Fully made by Russian defense companies, the Bulava missile system is standardized with the Topol-M ground-based ICBM system.

Except for ballistic missiles, Borei-class subs will be armed with torpedo tubes. Nuclear powerplant driving one propeller will make submarine move at the speed up to 15 knots on surface and up to 29 knots under water. Subs of this project are equipped with surfacing rescue chamber capable to accommodate the whole crew. Latest innovations in shipborne radioelectronics and noise reduction technology were applied when designing of Borei-class subs.

Shlemov added that decision on modernization of nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov (Project 11442 Orlan) would be made in Sept; RUR 5 bln was appropriated for that purpose in this year.

"State defense order provides 5 billion rubles for that purpose. But to open this project, we have to sign appropriate documents", Shlemov said.

As for him, so far it has not been decided whether to upgrade the cruiser. "This project was put into Defense Order 2012, the decision is to be made in September", said the official.

He pointed out that defense ministry, Russian Navy command, and United Shipbuilding Corporation had agreed to resume construction of Lada-class non-nuclear submarines since 2013.

"Hopefully, this item will be put in Defense Order 2013. If so, building of those subs would be resumed in the next year", concluded Shlemov.

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=15816

SSBN Yury Dolgoruky Ready to Enter Service

Sevmash shipyard is ready to sign acceptance certificate of Project 955 lead submarine SSBN Yury Dolgoruky.

By Sept 28, experts of JSC Sevmash shipyard had eliminated all defects found by the state ship acceptance commission. That is proved by the examination certificate signed by Chief of Russian Navy Main HQ Admiral Alexander Tatarinov.

Built under Project 955, Yury Dolgoruky is the lead submarine of the new class. Hull length is 170 meters; beam is 13.5 meters; test depth is 450 meters; submerged speed is 29 knots. After SSBN Yury Dolgoruky, three subs of this class were laid down - SSBN Alexander Nevsky, Vladimir Monomakh, and Knyaz Vladimir.

Series of the fourth-generation nuclear submarines armed with Bulava ballistic missiles is to become the core of Russia's maritime nuclear strategic force for the next few decades.

JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation is Russia's largest shipbuilding company. It was established by presidential decree in 2007 with 100% shares in federal ownership. The holding comprises about 60 companies and organizations of shipbuilding industry (largest shipyards and ship-repair plants, leading design bureaus). Presently, the corporation consolidates about 70% of national shipbuilding industry. Although the company is oriented on Russian market, it exports production to 20 countries.

JSC Sevmash (affiliate of United Shipbuilding Corporation) is the largest multifield shipbuilding company in Russia. Production program is based on four main directions, i.e. state defense order, international military cooperation, construction of shelf development facilities and civil shipbuilding, and manufacturing products for machine-building and oil-and-gas industries.

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=16043

SSBN Alexander Nevsky Passed Another Trial Round

Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Alexander Nevsky has successfully passed another round of shipyard's sea trials in the White Sea. During that "sea exam" all onboard systems were tested on different modes. All tasks were accomplished in full.

"Contracting company, trial team and the sub's crew have worked excellently", said Alexander Reznikov who is the engineer in charge of the submarine delivery. The shipyard's trial team headed by him and the crew led by Capt 1 Rank Vasily Tankovid have become the united collective which teamwork is aimed at timely execution of all assigned tasks.

According to Marat Abizhanov, military production director at Sevmash shipyard, previous sea trial rounds showed excellent propulsive performance and maneuverability of the sub. Upon termination of shipyard's sea trials, SSBN Alexander Nevsky will start the state acceptance ones.

Built under Project 955, Alexander Nevsky is the first batch-produced Borei-class ballistic missile submarine. Hull length is 170 meters; beam is 13.5 meters; test depth is 450 meters; submerged speed is 29 knots. Lead submarine of the series is SSBN Yury Dolgoruky. After SSBN Alexander Nevsky, two other subs were laid down at Sevmash shipyard, namely Vladimir Monomakh and Knyaz Vladimir.

Series of the fourth-generation nuclear submarines armed with Bulava ballistic missiles is to become the core of Russia's maritime nuclear strategic force for the next few decades.

JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation is Russia's largest shipbuilding company. It was established by presidential decree in 2007 with 100% shares in federal ownership. The holding comprises about 60 companies and organizations of shipbuilding industry (largest shipyards and ship-repair plants, leading design bureaus). Presently, the corporation consolidates about 70% of national shipbuilding industry. Although the company is oriented on Russian market, it exports production to 20 countries.

JSC Sevmash (affiliate of United Shipbuilding Corporation) is the largest multifield shipbuilding company in Russia. Production program is based on four main directions, i.e. state defense order, international military cooperation, construction of shelf development facilities and civil shipbuilding, and manufacturing products for machine-building and oil-and-gas industries.

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=16050

Any info when Vladimir Monomakh will be in water?

Russia puts off cutting-edge nuclear sub deployment for year

Russia’s nuclear ballistic missile submarine Yuri Dolgoruky, the first unit of the Borei class officially designated as Project 955, will be deployed with the Russian Navy in 2013, followed by the same-typed Alexander Nevsky Bulava-carrier in 2014, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told reporters Monday.

Russian Naval Command source said earlier both the Yuri Dolgoruky and Bulava missile were to enter the Russian Fleet in 2012.

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_22/Russia-puts-off-cutting-edge-nuclear-sub-deployment-for-year/

Is there any aspect in which the borei is superior than the ohio or vanguard class SSBNs?

Is there any aspect in which the borei is superior than the ohio or vanguard class SSBNs?

Good one ,truly , good one !!!


On a more serious note we can only point out the extreme pressure in US Navy environment ,in particular in the latest years, to accelerate SSBN(X) program ,for the replacement of those authenticate dinosaurs totally outdated for modern standards in virtually any cardinal parameters .

The SSBN(X) quick implementation become even crucial for NATO nations taking into account that ,for the effect of pasted strategic choices , them had placed almost all theirs "nuclear deterrence's" eggs in the SSBN's basket : already for itself a very ,very, very risky option.