Article Posted on : - Oct 20, 2010

The Yury Dolgoruky nuclear-powered submarine.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet is fully prepared to welcome ‘Yury Dolgoruky’ – the first Borey class nuclear-powred ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) built by the country.

The Vilyuchinsk naval base of the Pacific Fleet, where the new strategic nuke-sub will be docked, has been entirely refurbished and equipped with new security and communications systems, a media report said.

“Prior to the arrival of the Yury Dolgoruky submarine in Vilyuchinsk, all piers and main facilities at the base have been rebuilt, new security and communications systems have been introduced, and the training center has been modernized,” Igor Korotchenko, a member of the Russia Defense Ministry's Public Council, was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Russia is presently building four Borey class SSBNs and plans to build four more by 2015.

While the Yury Dolgoruky has recently completed sea trials in the White Sea and is waiting to enter service with the Russian Navy, the other three subs of this class are in different stages of production.

The fourth-generation Borey class SSBN has a water displacement of 24,000 tons and it is capable to dive down to 450 meters. Each submarine can carry up to 16 Bulava inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

The induction of Yury Dolgoruky into service has been delayed as the Bulava missiles are presently undergoing test-trials.