Article Posted on : - Feb 01, 2011

The Oscar class nuke submarine of Russia. The new Graney-class attack subs are set to replace the Soviet-era Akula class and Oscar class subs.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia's first Graney class nuclear attack submarine, Severodvinsk, is set to begin sea trials in May following which it will be inducted in the Russian Navy by 2011-end.

The submarine, which was floated out in June 2010 after over a decade-long delay in its construction, is presently undergoing harbour trials at the Sevmash Shipyard, an official said.

"The submarine is undergoing harbour trials at the Sevmash Shipyard and is getting ready for sea trials in May," a spokesman for the Malakhit design bureau said.

"It should enter service with the Russian Navy by the end of this year," the official was quoted as saying by Ria Novosti.

Russia began the construction of Severodvinsk in 1993 which was scheduled to be completed by 1998. However, financial and technical snags delayed the project.

The new-generation submarine has a water displacement of 9,700 tons when surfaced and 13,500 tons when submerged.

The large vessel is capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles that include the 3M51 Alfa SLCM, the SS-NX-26 Oniks SLCM or SS-N-21 Granat/Sampson SLCM, and also anti-ship missiles such as the SS-N-16 Stallion. It is also equipped with eight torpedo launchers.

Severodvinsk is the first Graney class (Project 885 Yasen) nuclear attack submarine. Another vessel of this class, Kazan, is presently under construction.

The Graney-class nuclear attack submarines are based on Russia's Akula-class and Alfa-class submarines. They are slated to replace the Soviet-era Akula class and Oscar class subs of the navy.