The Sevmash Shipyard (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation) reported that the improved Project 955A (Borei-A) strategic nuclear-powered lead submarine Knyaz Vladimir has been handed over to the Russian Navy, the press office of the United Shipbuilding Corporation reported on Thursday. On May 28, a ceremony was held at the Sevmash Shipyard for signing an acceptance certificate for the strategic missile-carrying underwater cruiser Knyaz Vladimir. The document was signed by Chairman of the State Ship Acceptance Commission of the Russian Navy Main Command Alexei Poteshkin, Sevmash CEO Mikhail Budnichenko, Chief Designer of the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering Sergei Sukhanov and submarine commander Vladislav Druzhin.
Submarine commander Captain 1st Rank Druzhin noted that the crew had fully studied and mastered the ship during the sea trials and was ready to start accomplishing assigned missions. The official date of its inclusion in the structure of the Navy will be the day when the ceremony of raising the St. Andrew’s Russian naval flag takes place for the first time aboard the ship. The Russian Northern Fleet earlier reported that the latest nuclear-powered submarine had completed its trials in the White Sea and arrived at the Sevmash Shipyard. The Knyaz Vladimir carried out the basic part of its trials, including missile and underwater torpedo firings, in late 2019.
K-549 Knyaz Vladimiris a Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, and the first upgraded Borei-A (Project 955A) unit to enter service with the Russian Navy. The submarine is named after Prince Vladimir the Great. Four more Borei-A submarines are at various stages of their construction. Also, a contract has been signed for building two more missile-carrying underwater cruisers of this Project. There are also plans to build two more Borei-A subs. Project 955 and Project 955A submarines have been developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation).
Knyaz Vladimir is the first unit of the Project 955A sub-class and will differ by several modifications from the previous units of the project 955. These modifications will include major structural changes, reduced acoustic signature, and more modern communication equipment. All Borei-class submarines carry 16 Bulava ballistic missiles. They are also furnished with 533mm torpedo tubes. Currently, three Project 955 nuclear-powered missile-carrying subs are operational in the Russian Northern and Pacific Fleets. Knyaz Vladimir and its sister ships will eventually replace the Soviet-era Delta and Typhoon-class submarines in the Russian Navy.
