The marine defense fleet is preparing the Prince Pozharsky, a nuclear submarine cruiser of the Sevmash-built Prince Pozharsky project, for a December launch in the second half of the month. A source from the military-industrial complex shared this update with TASS, underscoring that the vessel is nearing the end of its slipway phase and is close to being moved from the boathouse for final outfitting and testing.
In a current status report, the sources indicate that the Prince Pozharsky is rapidly approaching a transition from construction to readiness, with planned activities including completion work and comprehensive sea trials after the launch from the slipway. The word from industry circles confirms that the submarine will be prepared for testing and verification soon after it leaves the slipway, reflecting ongoing momentum in the program.
Historically, the fifth vessel in this class, also named Prince Pozharsky, was initially launched on December 23, 2016. This class is designed to carry a substantial payload of missiles, with a capacity for bulava ballistic missiles, a feature that significantly contributes to strategic deterrence projections for the fleet.
Across other assessments, a May report from CNBC, citing a U.S. intelligence source, suggested that Russia’s strategic submarine fleet armed with hypersonic missiles could be positioned for high readiness by the mid-2020s. The report discussed planned expansions in the number of new submarines and described capabilities related to rapid launch potential. It also touched on the fleet’s capacity to deploy multiple high-speed missiles, highlighting a strategic emphasis on hypersonic capabilities in the broader modernization trajectory.
Earlier in the program’s timeline, the submarine Dolgoruky was reported to have deployed four Bulava missiles toward Kamchatka as part of testing and readiness demonstrations, illustrating the operational cycle from missile integration to deployment in key maritime regions and training ranges.