The Yasen-class nuclear submarine is a new generation of multi-purpose attack nuclear submarine developed by Russia to adapt to new combat needs. It adopted new design concepts during the construction process, continuously adjusted technical requirements, and applied new Russian scientific research results. This enables the Yasen-class nuclear submarine to show excellent performance in terms of diving depth, quietness, shore attack capability, and automation. It is the master of Russian submarine technology.
Introduction to the Yasen-class submarine
The construction of the Yasen-class nuclear submarine started in 1993. The first boat, the Severodvinsk, was launched in 2010 and entered service in 2013. After the first submarine was successfully developed, the second submarine Kazan was launched in 2017. Then Novosibirsk was launched in 2019, and there are currently four more ships under construction. Russia has improved the related technology of this nuclear submarine starting from the second submarine Kazan, called Yasen M class.
The Yasen-class nuclear submarine is the first type of attack nuclear submarine developed and equipped by the Russian Navy after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is of great significance to the Russian Navy.
According to data released by Russia, the first Yasen-class nuclear submarine, the Severodvinsk, is 120 meters long and 13 meters wide. It has a maximum surface displacement of 9,500 tons and an underwater displacement of 13,800 tons. The maximum surface speed is 16 knots and the maximum underwater speed is 31 knots. , the maximum diving depth is 600 meters.
dive depth
It adopts advanced stealth design technology, has an elongated water drop shape, has a very suitable aspect ratio, is evenly stressed and has good pressure resistance. This type of boat design can increase the submarine's diving depth, which is an important technical and tactical indicator for measuring submarine performance.
At present, most submarines can dive to a depth of 200 to 500 meters. For example, France's more advanced Barracuda-class submarines can perform combat missions at a water depth of 350 to 500 meters.
The Yasen-class has a leading advantage in this regard. It can dive to a depth of 600 meters, which is enough to make it extremely concealable.
Concealment
An advanced attack nuclear submarine only has concealment which is far from enough. In order to cope with anti-submarine operations and improve its survivability, the submarine must reduce the probability of being discovered and strive to reduce its noise to that of the ocean. The background noise is close to the level. The silent performance of the Yasen class is outstanding among similar nuclear submarines. The KTP6 integrated pressurized water reactor used in the boat greatly reduces the noise of the power system. It also uses new active silencing technology, and its noise is close to the environmental noise of the ocean.
Combat Performance
The Yasen-class nuclear submarine has advantages in deep diving performance, and its combat missions are also more diverse. It can not only conduct anti-submarine and anti-ship operations, but can also complete certain strategic strike missions.
Both naval powers like the United States and Russia attach great importance to the versatility of attack nuclear submarines. Because if submarines are divided into very detailed categories, then a huge number of nuclear submarines will be built. For example, anti-submarine submarines, anti-ship submarines, land attack submarines, etc., so only multi-functional submarines can meet the needs of this kind of combat.
The nuclear submarines of the Soviet Navy have a relatively detailed division of labor. Each has its own unique and specialized function. For this function, it is possible to maintain 4 or 5 different nuclear submarines at the same time. Although it is very professional, the cost is very high. The Yasen class combines the functions of these submarines.
weapon system
Yasen-class nuclear submarine combines the functions of cruise missile nuclear submarine and attack nuclear submarine, and its firepower configuration is extremely powerful. Yasen-class nuclear submarines are equipped with torpedo launch tubes and multi-purpose missile vertical launch systems with wider applicability. The boat can carry a variety of missiles in the Russian Navy's active arsenal, including submarine-launched land-attack cruise missiles, submarine-launched supersonic anti-ship missiles, anti-submarine missiles , heavy torpedoes , and supercavitating torpedoes Waiting for missiles.
vertical launch system can launch almost all current Russian models of anti-ship missiles and submarine-launched land attack cruise missiles.
Yasen class can carry 24 P700 Granite supersonic anti-ship missiles or 32 P800 Gem supersonic missiles. The maximum range of Granite missiles can reach 550 kilometers. It can attack enemy surface ships in two ballistic modes: high and low. It can be used alone One shot can also be fired in multiple salvoes.
During a salvo, a missile acting as the lead missile flies at a high trajectory and transmits enemy target information to other missiles flying at low altitude through the data link between missiles to ensure the concealment of the low-altitude flying missile. If the lead bomb is shot down by an interceptor missile launched by the enemy, another missile will take off and take over the lead role. After entering the enemy target area, the missile group automatically disperses and conducts terminal flight to attack the target according to the program set by the computer in the missile.
Benchmarking with U.S. submarines
The Yasen class is basically at the same time as the U.S. Seawolf class, so its design is aimed at the Seawolf class attack nuclear submarines of the same period. The Seawolf-class nuclear submarine has an underwater displacement of more than 9,000 tons and a maximum diving depth of more than 600 meters. It adopts X-shaped stern and pump-jet propulsion method, which has high underwater maneuverability and good quietness. It can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
However, with the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the development project of the Yasen-class nuclear submarine almost stalled due to economic reasons. It was not until the 21st century that the development of the Yasen-class attack nuclear submarine was restarted. The United States' new generation of Virginia-class attack nuclear submarines has begun construction. Therefore, when the Yasen-class was restarted, the Virginia-class attack nuclear submarines were developed as imaginary enemies. The original design of the Yasen-class was also improved accordingly.
The Virginia-class nuclear submarine is a simplified version of the Seawolf-class, with an underwater displacement of 7,800 tons and a maximum diving depth of 488 meters. The boat can not only launch Tomahawk cruise missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, but also launch unmanned submarines for underwater reconnaissance, mine clearance and anti-submarine warfare.
Among similar nuclear submarines, especially similar attack nuclear submarines, the Yasen-class should be at the same technical level as the American Virginia-class and Seawolf-class.
But its biggest advantage is that there are more choices for ship-borne ammunition and weapon systems. Compared with the Sea Wolf class and the Virginia class, the overall strength of the Yasen class is comparable to them, and some of their performances are different. However, the successor to the Yasen M-class nuclear submarine is still under construction.
In recent years, Russia has gradually increased its research and development efforts on ships. The Yasen-class attack nuclear submarine has accumulated rich development and production experience in the process of continuous development, laying a solid foundation for the development of Russian follow-up submarines.
