Russian TV Report Highlights Project 855M Yasen-M class Submarine Kazan Design Improvements

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Naval Technology - Project 855M / Yasen-M SSGN
 
 
 
Russian TV Report Highlights Project 855M Yasen-M class Submarine Kazan Design Improvements
 
The Severodvinsk nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine (SSGN) of project 885 became operational in the Russian Navy three years ago. Armed with Onix and Kalibr missiles it operates in the Northern fleet. In foreseeable future a project 885M boat of Yasen-M class is to become operational in the Navy. It will be built by an upgraded project and enjoy unique characteristics, including decreased noisiness. The submarine named Kazan is the first one in the series which will comprise the backbone of the Russian underwater forces, the Zvezda broadcaster reported.
     
Kazan project 885M submarine ssn Yasen M class 1K561 Kazan is the first Project 885M / Yasen-M class SSGN of the Russian Navy
     
The Malakhit Design Bureau in St. Petersburg does not conceal there are no equals in the world to the Russian project 885M by combat characteristics, seaworthiness and technical innovations. The 885M project surprisingly combines a rare speed for such displacement, low signature and an impressive set of armaments. The Malakhit said upgrades and new technical solutions were used in the element base of the radio-technical warfare, modernized equipment and new materials.

Besides, the submarine has new architectural hull specifics. In the floating dock a part of the submarine was covered by special arches to bar satellite reconnaissance. NATO intelligence is keen to obtain information about the Russian submarine. Foreign observers say it is the most dangerous in the world and make such conclusions only on the basis of open data.
     
TV Zvezda in depth video report on Kazan
     
The main question for NATO is how Russia succeeded to create a warship capable of efficiently fighting submarines, aircraft carriers and coastal targets. The US Seawolf, for example, the construction of which began practically at the same time as project 885, can engage only torpedoes as it has no universal vertical missile launchers. The Russian project is multirole not only because of a broad range of armaments. The project 885 submarine is distinguished by a hydro-acoustic complex which can monitor the underwater situation at major distances from the U-boat. A completely new hull scheme was designed - one and a half instead of double. Malakhit CEO Vladimir Dorofeyev said it makes the project unique and revolutionary for domestic shipbuilding.

The Prometei Research Institute of construction materials is the site of all research to determine the composition, structure and characteristics of construction, functional and welding materials and coatings. It is engaged in diagnostics and testing of materials for compliance with assigned requirements and forecasts the durability and operability of materials and constructions. Deputy CEO of the institute Alexey Ilyin confirmed the metal, which will operate in extreme underwater conditions, is subject to major loads during test trials. Project 885M submarine will operate at depths of several hundred meters and pressure will be considerable. The submarine protection has to be durable to sustain the pressure, on the one hand, and tenacious to resists potential damage, on the other.
     
Kazan project 885M submarine ssn Yasen M class 2K561 Kazan is the first Project 885M / Yasen-M class SSGN of the Russian Navy
     
A special laboratory rolling test mill which operates with various materials is used to test characteristics of alloy technologies. Materials are studied with the use of electronic microscopes which zoom in several hundred times. The Prometei has accumulated a unique database of alloys, material compositions and various welding types. Explosive welding has been mastered which is necessary for titanium that demands obligatory protection from atmospheric air and thus all operations can be done either in vacuum or argon protective environment. Sevmash built a special welding chamber to create "deep vacuum." No gas enters the welding seam and the quality of bonding increases. Each seem is tested through Roentgen to promote zero percent of faults.

Kalibr cruise missiles of project 885M confirmed their efficiency during the counterterrorist operation in Syria. Salvo launches at militants were fired by submarines although of other projects. Project 885M U-boats are armed with supersonic antiship Onix P-800 missiles capable of hitting single and group targets and operating in conditions of major fire and radio-electronic warfare. Mashinostroenie amalgamation first deputy CEO Alexander Dergachev said the impressive speed of the missiles decreases the strike time as the adversary fails to escape the targeting point and cannot properly react by jamming or interception. Onix is a uniform missile which can be fired from submarines, surface warships and coastal weapons. Dorofeyev believes project 885M submarine incorporates the "warship-weapon" concept when armaments organically complement all carrier characteristics.
     
Kazan project 885M submarine ssn Yasen M class 3K561 Kazan is the first Project 885M / Yasen-M class SSGN of the Russian Navy
     
Torpedoes are to be also mentioned. They comprise three dozen of self-targeting torpedoes. Vladimir Antonov from Gidropribor Concern, which produces them, said the torpedo can operate at a distance of up to 100 km and at depths of up to one kilometer and can hit targets even under ice. "It is a modern torpedo at the level of best foreign analogues and surpassing them by some parameters," he said.

The design of torpedo launchers of project 885M submarines can also fire mines with warheads equipped with foe-or-friend identification. The submarine itself is reliably protected from adversary torpedoes by the hydro-acoustic counteraction system. It operates as a dummy target.
     
Kazan project 885M submarine ssn Yasen M class 4K561 Kazan is the first Project 885M / Yasen-M class SSGN of the Russian Navy
     
The first submarine of the project is currently undergoing mooring trials. The Kazan crew under the command of Captain 1st rank Alexander Beketov and the trial team of the shipyard have already checked the materiel. The submarine will have to pass acceptance tests and the final inspection and only after them will be handed over to the fleet. Another five project 885M submarines have to become operational in the near future. The Novosibirsk, the Krasnoyarsk, the Arkhangelsk, the Perm and the Ulyanovsk are at various construction stages at Sevmash shipyard. According to the Maritime Doctrine and the plans of the Navy Main Command, project 885M nuclear submarines have to comprise the backbone of the Russian underwater forces in the midterm, the Zvezda broadcaster said.

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