Russia launches its most powerful Kazan nuclear submarine ever, in Severodvinsk.
Project 885 Yassen class fourth-generation Kazan nuclear sub, is capable of blasting nuclear warheads at targets 1,500 miles away.
The giant submarine that was under construction since 2009, is 139m long and 13m wide, will be able to launch missiles to hit East US Coast from the middle of Atlantic.
It displaces 13,800 tonnes when underwater, can reach 600 meters in depth traveling at a speed of 31 knots.
The submarine has a crew of 85-90 men and can stay submerged for a 100 days.
Images credit TASS
via dailymail
Kazan is a Russian nuclear attack submarine of the Yasen class. It is the second boat of the project, separated from the first by 16 years (1993-2009). Considerable changes were made to the initial design.
The submarine project was developed in the “Malachite” design office in Saint Petersburg. The Russian navy declared that the submarine will be improved in comparison to Severodvinsk, the first of the class. Differences in the project have appeared sufficient to consider it as a new updated version (Yasen-M Russian: Ясень-М)] Compared to the first-of-class, Kazan will reportedly have two more VLS silos (10, compared to 8 on K-329 Severodvinsk), 2 fewer torpedo tubes compared to 10 on Severodvinsk) and a pump-jet propulsor.[4] The submarine is to be launched in 2016 and completed in 2017. Kazan was rolled out of the construction hall on 31 March 2017. Based on released photographs, the submarine appears to retain a conventional propeller[8] as opposed to American Virginia class submarines which are equipped with a pump-jet propulsor.
In March 2016, it was reported that Kazan’s first crew had been formed
On 23 August 2016 the Sevmash Shipyard reported that the submarine would be delivered to the Russian Navy in 2018
In mass culture[edit]
SSGN Kazan features prominently in the Kirov novel series by John Schettler. At the end of the first season, the modern submarine battles a US task force near the Kuril Islands and then hunts down rebellious captain Karpov onboard the battlecruiser Kirov.