Russian Navy finally gets its hands on Kazan
Kazan pictured during tests in the White Sea. (Photo: Russian Navy)
Acceptance papers were signed on 4 May to hand over the Project 885M Yasen-M class nuclear-powered attack submarine Kazan, the Russian Navy announced on 5 May.
An official flag-raising ceremony is now due to take place at the Sevmash shipyard on 7 May, ‘indicating the successful completion of tests’, the navy added.
Construction of Kazan began in 2009, but completion and handover to the Russian Navy has been repeatedly delayed because the Russian Navy wanted technical improvements to certain components and onboard systems.
A target date of 2017 was missed and, most recently, United Shipbuilding Corporation chief Alexei Rakhmanov claimed that the submarine would be officially handed over on 26 February.
Shephard Defence Insight estimates that Kazan is armed with up to 32 Kalibr and 24 Oniks cruise missiles, plus RPK-7 anti-submarine rockets and UGST-M torpedoes.
The 120m-long submarine displaces 13,800t. Fitted with an OK-650KPM nuclear reactor, it can reach a top speed above 31kt and can dive up to 600m.
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Yasen M Class (Project 885M) (2-9) [Russia]
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