Russia launches Nuclear-Powered Yasen-M Class Submarine Novosibirsk.

The launch of the first serial nuclear submarine (NPS) of project 885M Yasen-M Novosibirsk will take place on December 25. This was announced to TASS by the head of Sevmash Mikhail Budnichenko before the start of the solemn meeting dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the enterprise celebrated on Saturday.

"Novosibirsk" is the second serial production submarine of the Yasen-M class (Picture source: TASS)

The new vessel called the Novosibirsk, which is expected to join the ranks of the Russian Navy next year, is the first mass-produced submarine of its type. The maiden Yasen-M submarine, the Kazan, is still undergoing naval trials and is expected to join the Navy in 2020 as well. Four more submarines of the type are under construction, and at least two more are expected to be laid down later – presumably next year.

The full extent of the Yasen-M upgrade package remains unclear and may vary across the eight models that are scheduled to be produced over the coming decade, but is widely believed to encompass a lower acoustic signature, modernized onboard electronics loadout, shorter hull, and an expanded weapons suite. The latter notably includes the upcoming Kalibr-M cruise missile, which-- at 4,500 km versus 1,500- 2,500 km-- boasts nearly twice the range of the original 3M14 “Kalibr” cruise missile off which it is based.

The Yasen-M Class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines (SSGN) represent the most modern and potent Russian submarines are and widely regarded as similar to the latest Western submarines. The closest comparison is the US Navy’s Seawolf Class but the Russian design incorporates a large bank of vertical launch tubes (VLS) for cruise missiles.