SSBN "Emperor Alexander III" and its importance for the fleet
Bookmark SSBN "Emperor Alexander III", December 2015
For the naval fleet Russia and in the interests of its strategic nuclear forces, the construction of Project 955A Borei-A strategic missile submarines continues. At the end of December, another ship of this type was accepted into the Navy, and at the same time the next cruiser was launched. The new submarine "Emperor Alexander III" will be the seventh "Borey" in service and can be handed over to the customer this year.
According to schedule
At the turn of the 955s and 955s, the Rubin Central Design Bureau, commissioned by the Ministry of Defense, developed an updated version of the Borey project 2012. The 2020A project included a number of measures aimed at improving all the main characteristics and more fully realizing the potential of new technologies. The lead Borey-A, named Prince Vladimir, was laid down at the Sevmash plant in Severodvinsk in XNUMX and accepted into the fleet in XNUMX.
On December 18, 2015, the laying ceremony of the next SSBN of a new type, which received the name "Emperor Alexander III", took place. It was already the seventh Borey and the fourth representative of the modernized Project 955A. It was reported that construction would be completed in the first half of the twenties, and soon after that the submarine would be accepted into the fleet.
Later, the exact plans of the Ministry of Defense became known. The department and the press reported that the Alexander III would be built in the workshop until 2022. By the end of the year, it was planned to complete the main stage of construction and launch the ship into the water. Accordingly, completion at the berth is planned for 2023, as well as the preparation and conduct of mooring, running and state tests.
The work is generally progressing according to the schedule. So, on December 29, 2022, a solemn ceremony was held at Sevmash, the heroes of which were two Borea-A at once. The finished submarine "Generalissimo Suvorov" was accepted into the Navy, and the next ship "Emperor Alexander III" was taken out of the shed and launched.
Cruiser's mortgage board
The ceremony was personally attended by leaders of the shipbuilding industry. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and President Vladimir Putin watched the acceptance and launching via videoconference. The leaders of the country and the industry congratulated the construction participants on the completion of construction, and also noted the role of new ships in ensuring national security.
Soon
As planned, the main part of the construction of the new Borea-A has been successfully completed. The submarine was launched and transferred to completion. It is expected that all work on the Alexander III will be completed within the next few months, and the ship will be accepted by the customer by the end of the year. The experience of building previous SSBNs pr. 955A shows that such estimates and plans are quite realistic and can be implemented.
According to known data, the submarine "Emperor Alexander III" is intended for the Pacific Fleet. After signing the acceptance certificate, in 2023-24, the crew will carry out the necessary training and make an inter-fleet transition to the duty station. During 2024, the submarine will be prepared for full-fledged service and combat duty. However, the exact timing of this, for obvious reasons, remains unknown.
The next "Borey" will be part of the 25th KTOF submarine division. Three previous ships, project 955 (A), are already serving in this formation - Alexander Nevsky, Vladimir Monomakh and Prince Oleg. In the coming months, they will be joined by the recently adopted Generalissimo Suvorov. In addition, the only representative of the old project 667BDR "Kalmar" in the Pacific Ocean - the cruiser "Ryazan" - remains in the division.
The two newest submarines, Project 955A, are of particular importance for the Pacific Fleet. The fact is that with the help of the new "Boreev" in recent years, the gradual replacement of the "Kalmar", obsolete morally and physically, has been carried out. Having received the Generalissimo Suvorov, the KTOF will be able to decommission the Ryazan and complete the transition to modern ships. The next "Emperor Alexander III", in turn, will strengthen the modern submarine group.
The positive consequences of these processes are obvious. New SSBNs have high performance characteristics and carry modern weapons. To date, they have used only a small part of the resource, and, with timely maintenance and repairs, they can serve for the next few decades. In addition, modern submarines have a significant reserve for further modernization.
It should be noted that not only the Pacific Fleet will receive such benefits from the new Boreev-A. Cruisers of the new type are also entering the Northern Fleet. And all these submarines are involved in the construction and development of strategic nuclear forces.
Technical potential
SSBN "Emperor Alexander III" was built according to the updated project 955A. In general, such a project is similar to the basic Borey, but differs in a number of technical and technological innovations. Due to them, it was possible to optimize production processes, as well as improve the main tactical, technical, operational and economic characteristics.
Etc. 955A provides for the construction of a double-hull submarine with a length of 170 m. The total displacement is 24 thousand tons, the surface displacement is less than 15 thousand tons. The ship has a high-power nuclear main power plant and a water jet propulsion unit. A speed of up to 28-29 knots and the ability to dive to 400-480 m are provided. A sharp reduction in physical fields and visibility is declared in comparison with submarines of previous generations.
The crew includes 107 people, of which about half are officers. Personnel are accommodated in cabins and cockpits; comfortable working and living conditions are provided. Autonomy - 90 days.
Boathouse exit ceremony, December 2022
"Borey-A" received an updated complex of on-board radio-electronic, radio engineering, hydroacoustic and other equipment. With the help of various systems and devices, the submarine is able to monitor the underwater, surface and air situation within a radius of tens of kilometers. Data exchange is also provided, incl. reception of target designation and orders for the use of main weapons.
The main weapons The SSBN is the D-30 missile system with the R-30 Bulava intercontinental missile. In the central part of the submarine's hull there are 16 vertical launchers for such SLBMs. According to known data, the Bulava has a flight range of at least 8-9 thousand km and carries a multiple warhead with individually targetable warheads.
There are six bow torpedo tubes of caliber 533 mm. They allow you to fire torpedoes and anti-submarine missiles, as well as lay sea mines. For self-defense on the surface, the crew has several MANPADS.
Means of deterrence
In general, SSBN pr. 955A "Borey-A", incl. the newest "Emperor Alexander III", are modern submarines with high performance, and are also a successful underwater platform for deploying missile weapons. At the same time, they received the latest ballistic missile that meets current requirements. As a result, the fleet receives an effective means of strategic nuclear deterrence.
Such ships are of great importance for the Navy and for national security. Therefore, their construction continues, and the laying and launching of new submarines is regularly carried out. Another submarine was accepted into the fleet just a couple of weeks ago. At the same time, the next submarine was launched, which will be able to enter service this year.
- Ryabov Kirill
- "USC"
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