Russia’s Northern Fleet to test Project 955A submarine Knyaz Vladimir in 2018.

Russia’s Northern Fleet will test the Project 955A Borei-A class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Knyaz Vladimir in 2018, the fleet’s press office said.

Project 955A compared to the previous 955 variant. Picture via Covert Shores.

"In 2018, Northern Fleet ships will continue to perform voyages to the Arctic, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Fleet forces will continue to learn to operate advanced military hardware and will take part in the trials of state-of-the-art ships. In particular, the submarine Knyaz Vladimir will be tested this year," the press office said.

"Work to develop and improve infrastructural facilities in the Arctic and maintain a high degree of fleet forces’ combat readiness will be among the first-priority tasks," the press office added.

The fourth-generation Project 955 nuclear-powered submarine is designed for elimination of the enemy’s strategic land targets and for tactical missions, e.g. antisurface and antisubmarine operations, in time of war. The submarine embodies advanced shipborne radio electronics and design solutions improving the hull’s hydrodynamics and slashing the noise.

The submarine’s primary weapon is the sophisticated R-30 Bulava (NATO reporting name: SS-NX-32) multiple individually-targeted re-entry vehicle (MIRV) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) with a range of over 8,000 kilometers (4,971 miles). Each Project 955 submarine carries 16 solid-propellant Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

The submarine is equipped with a surfacing escape chamber for the whole crew.

The submarine has a length of 170 meters, a width of 13.5 meters and a submergence depth of 450 meters. Its crew totals 107.

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