The Yasen-class submarine (Russian: Проект 885 "Ясень", "ash tree"), also known in the literature as the Graney class (erroneous) and Severodvinsk class, is a new Russian nuclear multipurpose attack submarine class. The class is based on the and the s and is projected to replace Russia's Soviet-era class attack submarines, both Akula class and Oscar class.

History

Construction on the first submarine started on 21 December 1993. The submarine was slated for launch in 1998 but was delayed due to problems in financing the project. In 1996 work on the submarine appeared to have stopped completely. Some reports suggested that as of 1999 the submarine was less than 10 percent completed. In 2003 the project 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 , 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 the work on a second Yasen submarine, named Kazan, was started. On 26 July the Russian navy command announced that one multipurpose submarine would be laid down every year, not necessarily of this class, starting in 2011.

An August 2009 report from the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence

Office of Naval Intelligence

The Office of Naval Intelligence was established in the United States Navy in 1882. ONI was established to "seek out and report" on the advancements in other nations' navies. Its headquarters are at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland...

 estimates the Yasen-class submarines as the quietest, or least detectable, of contemporaneous Russian and Chinese nuclear submarines.

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.
A third submarine is expected to be laid down by the end of 2011. K-329 Severodvinsk went on her first voyage in September 2011 in order to conduct sea trials.

On November 9 2011 Russia signed a contract for 4 Yasen class submarines to be delivered by 2016.

Costs

It was speculated that the cost of the first Yasen-class submarine was around 1 billion USD. Although another source claims that the price was actually 2 billion USD. Recent reports from unnamed sources speculate that the first-of-class (Severodvinsk) unit cost was 50 billion rubles (roughly 1.6 billion USD)while the second boat (Kazan) will cost an estimated 110 billion rubles (3.5 billion USD). This would make Kazan the most expensive SSN/SSGN in the world together with USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23). A single Yasen class submarine allegedly costs as much as two Borei class submarines.

Description

The vessel's design is claimed to be state-of-the-art. The Yasen-class nuclear submarine is presumed to be armed with cruise missiles, with several types suggested, but not limited to the 3M51 Alfa SLCM, the P-800 Oniks SLCM or the RK-55 Granat SLCM. It will also have of 8x650 mm and 2x533 mm tubes as well as mines and anti-ship missiles such as the RPK-7

SS-N-16

SS-N-16 Stallion refers to a Soviet 650 mm anti-ship missile that was deployed between 1979 and 1981. The name is a combination of the American designation of SS-N-16 and the NATO term of Stallion for Soviet RU-100s.It refers to either...

.

This class is the first Russian submarine to be equipped with a spherical sonar, designated as Irytysh-Amfora. Due to the large size of this spherical array, the torpedo tubes are slanted. The submarine has a crew of about 90, suggesting a moderate degree of automation in the submarine's different systems. The newest U.S. attack sub, the , has a crew of 134 in comparison.

Yasen-class submarines will be the first Russian SSNs/SSGNs equipped with a fourth generation nuclear reactor.

Units

Severodvinsk class – significant dates

	Project	Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Fleet
K-329	885		21 December 1993	15 June 2010	expected 2011	Northern
	885M		24 July 2009	2013–2014?	before 2015	TBD
	885M

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| Expected in 2011
| TBD
| TBD
| TBD
|}

Satellite photos

The first unit K-329 "Severodvinsk" can be seen in the waters of the naval base/submarine manufacturing/scrap base of Severodvinsk

Severodvinsk

Severodvinsk is a city in the north of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located in the delta of the Northern Dvina River, west of Arkhangelsk. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . Municipally, it is incorporated as Severodvinsk Urban Okrug. The city was founded as...

, Russia
The image suggests that the Yasen true length is about 140m.

• K-329 at 64.575181°N 39.800550°W