The delivery timeline for the nuclear submarine Generalissimo Suvorov, as reported by the shipbuilders at Sevmash and later by the Ministry of Defense, targets July 2023 for transfer to the Pacific Fleet. With tests on the submarine nearing completion, including the successful launch of the Bulava missile, there were grounds to believe that the handover could happen even earlier than planned. Sevmash’s managing director, Mikhail Budnichenko, stated that both the commissioning crew and the ship’s crew had fully completed their assigned tasks, though no exact delivery date was disclosed. [citation: Ministry of Defense and Sevmash communications]
“Test work on the submarine is currently underway, even while it is on the rig,” a source within the Russian Navy’s General Staff told socialbites.ca. There are several mandatory conditions still to be satisfied, such as the overhaul of mechanisms and the loading of all standard equipment. A nuclear submarine is an exceptionally intricate machine whose reliability must be verified beforehand to avoid any shortcomings during combat missions. Everything is progressing according to the planned schedule. It can be accelerated, but there is no reason to rush.” [citation: socialbites.ca interview]
The Russian fleet has been refreshed with Borei-class submarines since 2013. The Northern Fleet welcomed K-535 Yuri Dolgoruky, and less than a year later K-550 Alexander Nevsky joined the Pacific Fleet as part of the 25th submarine division. A year after that, K-551 Vladimir Monomakh arrived in the same fleet. By 2020, the improved Project 955A (Borey-A) submarines—K-549 Knyaz Vladimir and K-552 Knyaz Oleg—were transferred to the Northern Fleet, marking a continued evolution of the submarine lineup. [citation: Russian Navy summaries]
“In the Russian submarine fleet, a planned replacement of boats with new, promising projects is currently underway,” stated Vasily Dandykin, captain of the 1st rank of the reserve, in remarks to socialbites.ca. – This shift affects not only Borey and Yasen-M launchings but also the Varshavyanka diesel-electric boats. The transition remains gradual because constructing a submarine, especially a nuclear missile carrier, is an extended process. The Generalissimo Suvorov itself began laying down in 2014 and is only now nearing combat-ready status. Yet the overarching effort continues: new boats are being built, and the fleet is modernizing while phasing out aging ships.” [citation: socialbites.ca interview]
Borei submarines are expected to gradually replace the Soviet-era Dolphin-class boats. The last of those, K-407 Novomoskovsk, entered service toward the end of 1990. Even after a major overhaul, these vessels will still be required for at least five more years, during which time Borey-class boats should assume their roles. [citation: naval history records]
Looking ahead to 2023, ships such as Emperor Alexander III and Generalissimo Suvorov are anticipated to join the fleet, alongside ongoing builds like Prince Pozharsky, Dmitry Donskoy, and Prince Potemkin as part of the Borey-A project. In comparison, the Ohio-class submarines of the United States ceased production in 1997. [citation: defense timelines]
Overall, by 2027, the Russian Navy is projected to receive 14 new nuclear submarines, a figure echoed by the Ministry of Defense in 2020. The delivery timetable for Borey-A and Yasen-M submarines has largely kept to schedule, with several units already transferred to the fleet. [citation: defense ministry projections]
There is no publicly verifiable count of how many submarines Russia currently operates, whether active or on combat duty, outside official channels. It is widely believed that the number exceeds 60 when including both nuclear and diesel-powered boats. It is possible to confirm only those that have left storage and joined the fleet. Historical records indicate that roughly 250 nuclear submarines were built during the Soviet era. [citation: fleet estimates]
“Today, the submarine fleet count is a relative concept,” noted Alexander Pushkarsky, a former submarine commander and captain of the 1st rank of the reserve, in discussions with socialbites.ca. – My Buki-28, a Project 641 diesel-electric boat, was among the largest of its kind. Over seventy such boats were produced and eight were involved during the Caribbean crisis. While modern nuclear missile carriers stand in a different league, the Borey project is regarded as a major achievement in the fleet’s submarine forces, with each generation bringing its own heroes and milestones.” [citation: socialbites.ca interview]