According to recent reports, one of the Russian Navy’s modern nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines of the Borei class (Project 955) will remain out of service for the next few years. Specifically, this concerns the Yury Dolgoruky, the lead unit of the class, assigned to the Northern Fleet, which has recently entered the Sevmash shipyard for scheduled maintenance.
The Yury Dolgoruky (K-535) is the flagship of the Borei-class ballistic missile submarines, also known as Project 955. With a submerged displacement of nearly 24,000 tons and equipped with up to 16 Bulava ballistic missiles, the K-535, along with the rest of the class units, represents the most modern nuclear deterrent currently in operation within the Russian Navy.
Although construction began in 1996, Russia’s economic crisis in the 1990s delayed its entry into service until late 2012. Subsequently, another six submarines of the class were commissioned, operating with the Northern and Pacific Fleets. Additionally, the construction of two more units of the more advanced Project 955A version is planned, with two more projected.
The latest variant introduces improvements in communication systems, detection, acoustic signature, and various structural changes compared to the three original submarines (Yury Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky, and Vladimir Monomakh).
Regarding the Yury Dolgoruky, Sevmash shipyard sources confirmed that the ballistic submarine has recently entered their facilities for maintenance work. Although specific details were not provided, given the mentioned duration, it is likely that the work involves more extensive tasks than a simple inspection or routine repairs, considering it has been nearly twelve years since its commissioning.
“The strategic nuclear-powered missile submarine Yury Dolgoruky, flagship of Project 955, is currently undergoing its first scheduled maintenance, which will last from two to three years, after which the cruiser will be in service for at least 20 years,” stated Vladimir Maltsev, head of the All-Russian Navy Support Movement, to the TASS news agency.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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