Fourth-generation submarines: backbone of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent

The Russian Navy will receive two Borei-class strategic nuclear submarines of the fourth generation, the Vladimir Monomakh and the Alexander Nevsky, in 2015

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The Borei claims to be a state-of-the-art submarine, featuring characteristics superior to any submarine currently in service, such as the ability to cruise silently and be less detectable to sonar. Each submarine can be armed with 12 ICBMs with MIRVs

A Borei-class submarine is 170 meters long and 13.5 meters wide. Photo: Russia’s Borei-class strategic submarine Vladimir Monomakh (Project 955) built by the Sevmash shipyard

The submarines displace 24,000 tons, reach speeds of 29 knots (some 54 km per hour), can dive to 450 meters and carry crews of 107 people. Photo: Russia's third Borei-class nuclear-powered submarine Vladimir Monomakh

Advances include a compact and integrated hydrodynamically efficient hull for reduced broadband noise and the first ever use of pump-jet propulsion on a Russian nuclear submarine. Photo: Russia's third Borei-class nuclear-powered submarine Vladimir Monomakh

The leading submarine of the series, Yuri Dolgoruky, went into service in January 2013. Photo: Borei-class submarine Yuri Dolgoruky of the fourth generation at the shipyard

The vessels will be armed with up to 16 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which have range of over 8,000 kilometers. Photo: The Borei class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Yuri Dolgoruky taking part in a parade marking the Russian Navy Day

The submarine successfully passed all the sea trials under the combat training program and test-fired the Bulava sub-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles

The Alexander Nevsky was the first serial Project 955 ship of the Borei Class. It was laid down on March 19, 2004

The Defense Ministry plans to build at least eight new Borei-class submarines that should become the main naval component of Russia's strategic nuclear forces. Photo: Vladimir Putin visiting Alexander Nevsky nuclear-powered submarine

Sevmash, Russia’s largest shipyard, is now building two sets of new-generation nuclear submarines - attack craft (Yasen class, Project 855) and strategic craft (Borei class, Project 955) - for the Russian Navy. The head Yasen-class submarine named Severodvinsk was commissioned with the Russian Navy in 2013. Photo: Yasen class nuclear attack submarine Severodvinsk