Dolgorukiy Factory Testing Complete

Borey-class SSBN Yuriy Dolgorukiy

Not a huge news story, but worth keeping continuity on . . . and there are interesting questions — has the fourth Borey really been laid down, and how many launch tubes will be on unit 2, 3, etc.? 

Borey-class SSBN Yuriy Dolgorukiy completed its factory underway testing by 24 September, according to the official Russian news services.  A spokeswoman for Sevmash said the current testing plan was fulfilled, and all established tasks were completed.  Captain First Rank Vladimir Shirin called the last at-sea period ‘excellent.’  All systems reportedly worked well, and minor issues noted during previous cruises were resolved.  The Sevmash delivery team and Dolgorukiy crew are preparing to present the submarine to the state acceptance commission.  But according to Grani.ru, a United Shipbuilding Corporation (OSK) source told Interfaks the obvious – acceptance of Dolgorukiy into the Navy inventory is not being considered since its main weapon – the Bulava SLBM – is not ready.  The Defense Ministry is still hoping that the new SSBN will be the launch platform for one of the next three Bulava tests.

The news services noted there are two additional Boreys, not three, on Sevmash’s buildingways.  So one supposes number four, Saint Nikolay, hasn’t been laid down yet.

The news services maintain the line that the Borey-class boats will have 12 launch tubes each, but Grani.ru, like other media outlets, claims Aleksandr Nevskiy and Vladimir Monomakh are proyekt 955A units and will have 16 tubes, while Saint Nikolay will be a proyekt 955U boat, possibly with 20 tubes.

One response to “Dolgorukiy Factory Testing Complete

  1. With the current new start treaty limiting both sides to 1,500 warheads or less I think it doesn’t make much sense to put 20 missiles into each SSBN unless you want to reduce the number of warheads per missile.
    You want an operational fleet of at least 8-10 SSBNs otherwise you might find yourself the victim of a pre emptive strike that wipes out your effective SSBN fleet before they can launch. With a limit of 1,500 warheads that means about 500 warheads per service (land, air and sea) and with 8 boats that means about 63 warheads per boat. If you have 6 warheads per missile that means about 11 missiles per boat. If you have 4 warheads per missile that means 16 tubes. To get 20 tubes per boat with 8 boats that means about 3 and a quarter warheads per missile.
    The effect of squeezing 20 tubes into the SSBN will have a negative effect on its performance while the same number of warheads can be accomodated with 12 tubes. 16 tubes would allow more countermeasures and decoys to be fitted so I would expect that the first 2-3 might have 12 tubes and the remaining will have 16 tubes to offload the extra warheads to allow for more decoys and jammers. (though the latter is just my opinion).

Leave a comment