Article Posted on : - Sep 05, 2012

A file photo.

MOSCOW (BNS): The lead ship of Russia's new fourth-generation Severodvinsk-class nuclear attack submarine, Yasen, will undergo state sea trial in November ahead of its commissioning by the end of this year, according to a media report.

The submarine, built under Project 885 Yasen class (also Severodvinsk-class or Graney-class), will begin its fourth sea trials this month followed by state trial in November.

The submarine had begun sea trials in September 2011.

"Following the latest phase of seagoing tests, the submarine stays at the Svemash shipyard for adjustment of torpedo units. The fourth sea trial of the year is planned for mid-September. There will be state tests in November, and the state commission may accept the submarine in December," a source in the Russian Government's Military Industrial Commission was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass news agency.

"Three supersonic cruise missiles Caliber with the shooting range of more than 2,500 kilometers have been made for arming the Severodvinsk.

"The missiles can carry nuclear or conventional warheads and change their trajectory by altitude and vector while flying towards a sea-based or coastal target. The speed of the warhead increases after the separation and nears hypersonic. That is a high-precision super-quick weapon built mostly to fight aircraft carriers," the source said.

Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation has been contracted by the Defence Ministry to build a total of seven Severodvinsk-class submarines.

Six of these subs will be constructed under the modernised Project 885M (Graney-M class). The lead submarine of that project, the Kazan, is under construction at Sevmash shipyard, the report added.

Russian Navy plans to acquire the new-generation submarines by 2021.