Russian nuclear submersible Losharik set for 2025 completion and sea trials.

According to information published by Tass on August 16, 2024, the overhaul and modernization of the deep-sea nuclear-powered submersible AS-31 "Losharik" are slated for completion in 2025, following which sea trials will commence immediately.
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Only public photo of the Russian submarine Losharik. (Picture source: Pravdasevera)

According to a source in the shipbuilding industry during the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2024", once the work is finalized, the submersible will undergo a series of sea trials, progressively increasing its dive depth up to the maximum of 6,000 meters. The source also mentioned that a reassessment of the scope and nature of the repair work took place earlier this summer.

About the submersible

The Losharik (AS-31) is one of Russia's most secretive and specialized nuclear-powered submarines, primarily designed for deep-sea operations, with a capability to dive to extraordinary depths of up to 6,000 meters.

This depth range is far beyond what most submarines can achieve, making Losharik particularly useful for missions involving seabed operations, such as installing or tampering with underwater infrastructure, including communication cables.

Losharik suffered a significant setback in July 2019 when a fire broke out during a mission, leading to the tragic death of 14 crew members, many of whom were highly experienced officers.

The incident occurred while the submarine was docked with its support vessel, the BS-64 Podmoskovye. The fire, which is believed to have started in the battery compartment, caused severe damage, and the subsequent repair process has been lengthy and complex.

After almost five years of repairs, including the replacement of the nuclear reactor's fuel and installation of new equipment, Losharik is set to resume operations.

Despite the damage from the fire, the titanium hull of the submarine remained intact, preserving its capability to perform deep-sea missions.

The submarine is operated by the Russian Navy's Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research (GUGI), a secretive unit responsible for underwater reconnaissance and operations that are crucial to Russia's strategic interests, particularly in the Arctic and other sensitive regions.