Russia Expands Arctic Submarine Fleet With New Nuclear-Powered Vessels

Russia is rapidly expanding its submarine fleet in the Arctic by adding multiple nuclear-powered vessels to strengthen its Northern Fleet.

By 2030, Russia plans to introduce three more Borei-class nuclear submarines to its Northern Fleet, which is headquartered near Murmansk.

These submarines, measuring 170 meters in length and 13.5 meters in width, are designed to carry up to 16 Bulava ballistic missiles.

The Bulava missiles, with a range of approximately 9,300 km form a key part of Russia’s strategic deterrence, capable of striking both Europe and North America.

The Borei-class submarines first entered service in 2013, and currently, seven vessels of this class are operational. The expansion of this fleet will further enhance Russia’s second-strike nuclear capability.

Russia is also working on three new Yasen-class nuclear-powered attack submarines. These vessels, developed after the Soviet Union’s collapse, are built for stealth operations and high-speed tracking of enemy fleets.

They are armed with Onyx, Kalibr, and Zircon cruise missiles, some of which can carry nuclear warheads. The Yasen-class submarines pose a direct threat to enemy surface ships, which are designed to operate silently at speeds of up to 28 knots.

The country is redeveloping its old bases and constructing new military facilities. At least a dozen military bases are now located on its 14,000-mile-long Arctic coastline and archipelagos.

Apart from submarines, Russia is strengthening its Arctic naval presence with combat icebreakers and ice-class patrol ships. Two Project 23550 armed icebreakers, each with a displacement of 8,500 tons, are scheduled to join the fleet in 2025 and 2026.

These vessels, designed for patrolling Russia’s Arctic waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, have capabilities similar to Arctic patrol ships operated by Norway and Denmark.

Russia continues to operate traditional icebreakers such as the Project 21180 and 21180M series. One vessel from each project has already been commissioned, and a second Project 21180M icebreaker is expected to enter service in 2027.

The Arctic is strategically and economically important, holding 22% of the world’s untapped oil and gas reserves. The Northern Sea Route (NSR), which runs along Russia’s Arctic coastline is a key shipping corridor that could cut transit time between Asia and Europe in half.

Reference: Dagens

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