MOSCOW, October 25 (Itar-Tass) —— The fourth-generation nuclear-powered strategic missile carrying submarine Alexander Nevsky built at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk will start test firing Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles no earlier than in summer 2012, a source at the Russian Governmental Military Industrial Commission told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
“Following sea trials and a series of successful solitary launches of Bulava missiles, the Alexander Nevsky will be put into service by the Russian Navy in late 2012,” he said.
“The first serial missile carrying submarine of the Borei class started its first two-week sea trial in the White Sea the day before. The trial will test the operation of all the submarine units and mechanisms in various regimes. The Alexander Nevsky will return to Sevmash in the first ten days of November for the elimination of possible defects,” he said.
“Weather permitting, the sea trial of the submarine will continue this year. If the sea covers with ice in December, the trial will resume in spring 2012 and last through the end of summer, like it happened in the case of the Yuri Dolgoruky. Hence, the Alexander Nevsky will begin test firing Bulava missiles no earlier than in summer 2012. A series of successful test launches is a must, which means the submarine may be put into service no earlier than in the end of 2012,” the source said.
The Alexander Nevsky has one serious advantage over the Yuri Dolgoruky: it will not have to perform a duo Bulava test launch. “The salvo test launch was necessary for making sure of the missile system’s readiness for being put into service. By the time the Alexander Nevsky starts test firing Bulava missiles, the latter will have been put on combat duty,” he said.
The Sevmash shipyard is a component of the United Shipbuilding Corporation. It is the largest shipbuilding enterprise in Russia and the only shipyard of the country, the main task of which is atomic submarines building for Navy. The enterprise, occupying the area of more than 300 hectares, includes in its structure more than 100 subdivisions.
More than 25,000 people work on the basic enterprise of Severodvinsk.
From 45 surface ships, 163 submarines (among them 128 have nuclear power units), have been built on Sevmash since 1939.
Civil production manufacturing is focused on the oil and gas projects on the Arctic offshore zone. Sevmash specialists also take part in construction of surface fields of Russian North - manufacturing of industrial and accommodation modules, equipment for oil production, oil and gas pipeline and other objects inspection.
More than 100 civil vessels of different classes and purposes have been built since 1990 (tugs, mini-bulk carriers, pontoons, barges, fish farms) for foreign customers.