The Russian Navy commissioned its newest Project 955A or Borei-A-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) in a ceremony that included Russian President Vladimir Putin as guest of honour on Thursday, July 24.
The 170- by 13-metre Knyaz Pozharskiy is the fifth Project 955A submarine and the eighth overall under Project 955. It will be operated as part of the Russian Northern Fleet alongside earlier sister boat Knyaz Vladimir, which was delivered and commissioned in June 2020.
Compared to standard Project 955 SSBNs, the Project 955A boats each feature more advanced communication and detection systems, a reduced acoustic signature, and control surfaces that ensure greater underwater manoeuvrability.
Armament includes torpedoes and 16 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Each missile is fitted with six multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles, allowing one missile to strike multiple targets simultaneously.
All Project 955A SSBNs are being constructed by United Shipbuilding Corporation through subsidiary Sevmash. Another four submarines from the same class will be delivered to the Russian Navy, as Mr Putin himself also confirmed earlier this week.