Russian Navy commissions fifth Yasen-class cruise missile submarine

The Russian Navy commissioned its newest Project 885M or Yasen-M-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine into service in a ceremony at the facilities of United Shipbuilding Corporation’s Sevmash Shipyard on Friday, December 27.

Arkhangelsk is the fourth Yasen-M-class submarine and the fifth overall Project 885/Yasen-class boat. Like its Project 885M sisters, it has a length of 130 metres, a hull diameter of 13 metres, a maximum rated depth of 658 metres, a maximum submerged speed of 35 knots, and space for 64 crewmembers.

The submarine’s armament includes torpedoes as well as Oniks and Kalibr cruise missiles.

Arkhangelsk will be assigned to the Russian Northern Fleet alongside its earlier sisters Severodvinsk and Kazan. Two other earlier Project 885M boats, Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk, are meanwhile assigned to the Russian Pacific Fleet.

Design work on Arkhangelsk and the other Project 885 and Project 885M submarines was undertaken by Malakhit Marine Engineering Bureau. The new submarines will replace the Russian Navy’s Project 949/Oscar-class and Project 971/Akula-class boats, which were originally built in the 1980s.