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Modernized Irkutsk nuclear-powered sub to be back in service in 2023 - source

No official comments are available to TASS so far

MOSCOW, April 28. /TASS/. The Russian Pacific Fleet’s Project 949A ‘Antey’ multirole nuclear-powered submarine Irkutsk may be back in service in 2023, a source in the Russian ship-building industry told TASS on Thursday.

"Under the existing plans, the nuclear-powered submarine Irkutsk will be back on combat duty within the Russian Navy in 2023," the source said, adding that after the modernization the submarine will be able to carry 48 new cruise missiles of the Kalibr-PL, Oniks and Tsirkon class instead of 24 Granit anti-ship missiles.

"It means that the submarine will be able to hit coastal targets. Concrete types of missiles onboard the submarine will depend on its tasks," he added.

No official comments are available to TASS so far.

The submarine was originally expected to be back in service in 2017, then in 2019, and in 2022.

The nuclear-powered submarine Irkutsk (originally K-132) was built at the Sevmash shipyards (now incorporated into the United Ship-building Corporation) and floated out in late December 1987. It came into service a year later. It was given its current name in 1993. In 2001, it arrived at the Zvezda plant in the Far East for repairs. The Project 949A submarine carried 24 Granit anti-ship missiles.

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