Yasen-class submarines were designed by the Malakhit Central Design Bureau, formed by the combination of SKB-143 and TsKB-16, with work on the initial design scheduled for start in 1977 and completion in 1985. Malakhit is one of the three Soviet/Russian submarine design centers, along with Rubin Design Bureau and Lazurit Central Design Bureau.
Construction on the first submarine started on 21
December 1993 with its launch slated for 1995 and commissioning for 1998. However,
the project was delayed due to financial problems and it appeared during 1996
that work on the submarine had stopped completely. Some reports suggested that
as of 1999 the submarine was less than 10 percent completed. In 2003 the
project then received additional funding and the work of finishing the
submarine continued.
In 2004 it was reported that the work on the submarine
was moving forward, but due to the priority given to the new SSBN Borei-classsubmarine, Severodvinsk,
the lead unit of the Yasen class would not be ready before 2010. In July 2006
the deputy chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission, Vladislav Putilin,
stated that two Yasen-class submarines were to join the Russian Navy before
2015.
On 24 July 2009, work commenced on a second Yasen
submarine, named Kazan. On
26 July, the Russian navy command announced that starting in 2011, one
multipurpose submarine would be laid down every year, although not necessarily
of this class.
An August 2009 report from the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence estimated
the Yasen-class submarines to be the quietest, or least detectable, of
contemporaneous Russian and Chinese nuclear submarines but is still not as
quiet as contemporary U.S. Navy submarines (i.e. Seawolf and Virginia classes).
In April 2010 it was reported that the 7 May launch of
the first boat had been postponed due to 'Technical Reasons'. The launch of the first ship of this class and the
beginning of sea trials was reported in September 2011.
K-329 Severodvinsk went
on her first voyage in September 2011 in order to conduct sea trials.
On 9 November 2011 Russia signed a contract for 4
Yasen-class submarines to be delivered by 2016. On 26 July 2013 the third submarine, Novosibirsk, was laid down.
On 30 December 2013 the first submarine, Severodvinsk, was handed over to the
Russian Navy. The flag-raising ceremony was held on 17 June 2014 marking its
introduction into the Russian Navy.
The second
submarine of this class, the Kazan,
was laid down in 2009. It is an improved project Yasen-M boat, fitted with
improved electronic systems. Considerable changes were made to its design, as
this boat has been laid down 16 years later than the Severodvinsk.
In 2013 another
submarine of this class, the Novosibirsk,
has been laid down. It is also an improved project Yasen-M boat. Sources from
the Russian MoD claim that at least three more submarines of this class are
planned. All submarines will be built at SEVMASH naval yard in Severodvinsk.
The Graney class
is larger than the previous Akula class. Armament of this submarine includes 24
vertical launch tubes for various cruise missiles. Cruise missiles include the
P-800 Oniks (SS-N-26), which has a range of about 300 km. These multi-purpose
submarine are capable of striking costal targets. Improved Yasen-M boats might
have more vertical launch tubes.
Also there are
eight 650-mm torpedo tubes for torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. Some sources
report, that a total of 30 torpedoes and anti-ship missiles are carried. Mines
can be carried in place of torpedoes. It is worth mentioning, that torpedo
tubes are fitted behind the compartment of the central station. Some sources
report that there are also two 533-mm torpedo tubes.Hull of this
submarine is made of low magnetic steel, with a spherical bow sonar. It is
considered that the Graney class are only slightly quieter than the improved
Akula class.
It is reported
that this submarine has a crew of only 50, suggesting a high degree of
automation. However other sources claim, that these boats have a crew of 90
submariners, including 32 officers.
The Graney class
submarine has a single pressurized water reactor. Reactor has a service life of
about 25-30 years and do not has to be refueled. Sea endurance of these boats
is limited only by food supplies.
It was speculated that the cost of
the first Yasen-class submarine was around US$1 billion, although
another source claims that the price was actually US$2 billion. Recent
reports from unnamed sources speculate that the first-of-class (Severodvinsk) unit cost was
50 billion rubles (roughly US$1.6 billion) while the second boat
(Kazan) will cost an estimated 110 billion
rubles (US$3.5 billion). This would make Kazan the most expensive SSN/SSGN in the world together
with USS Jimmy Carter but not as expensive as the $4.8
billion French SSBN Triomphant class. A single Yasen-class submarine allegedly
costs as much as two Borei-class submarines.
In 2011, (then) Defense Minister
Anatoliy Serdyukov criticized the ever increasing cost of the Borei- and
Yasen-class submarines. The Minister described the massive increase in cost
between the first and the second Yasen-class submarine as "incomprehensible".
However, he insisted that the Ministry of Defence and Sevmash (builder) would
resolve the issue. Officials from the United Shipbuilding Corporation replied
that work done in Sevmash accounts to only 30% of the submarines completion
cost, the remaining 70% being linked to suppliers/contractors.
Due to the high cost of each
submarines some sources believe that a new generation of SSNs would be of
smaller dimensions with a reduced armament/payload.