The Severodvinsk Class Submarine, also known as the Yasen Class Submarine, is too expensive for serial production according to the Moscow Defense Brief magazine. It is the latest Russian nuclear-powered multipurpose submarine with an estimated cost that could reach $1 billion, according to Russia’s Vedomosti daily.
A float -out ceremony was held on Tuesday in which Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attended arriving in the northern port of Severodvinsk. The Severodvinsk submarine is a fourth-generation Russian nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine. It is based on the Akula-class submarine and the Alfa-class submarines and are expected to replace Russia’s older Soviet-era class attack submarines both Akula class and Oscar class.
The construction of the Severodvinsk, the first Project 885 Yasen (Graney) class submarine, started on December 21 1993 at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. It was slated for a float-out in 1998 but was delayed due to financial problems. More financial setbacks occurred until the first Severodvinsk Class Submarine received additional funding for completion.
Russia planned the float-out for the first Severodvinsk submarine on May 7 marking the 65th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in May 1945. However, it was postponed due to technical reasons.
The financial setbacks Russia experienced for this project could already be a basis why this submarine is too expensive for mass production. If the price of the submarine did cost $1 billion, we can expect that Russia will not be making more of this submarine class. But as Russia announced last year, they have started the construction for the second Yasen submarine. It would be much better if they can cut the costs for the second one – maybe that one can go for serial production.
What do you think about this too-expensive nuclear-powered multi-purpose submarine? Go on and leave your comments.
July 8th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
The production of this sub does not worry me neither does the deign cuz if production was delayed in 1998 the russion might as well go back to the drawing board and redesign a new sub cuz these Yasen class subs technology inside them would be out a date it’s 2010 not 1998 but it’s all about money if theywere to design a new one it could cut cost
August 7th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Like several countries have learned through previous wars, having the shiniest new toy does not guarantee success. If they bankrupt themselves in the creation of technology and cannot afford to maintain the crew and train them properly it has only accomplished becoming the most expensive fishing boat a nation has got to look at. They should cut their losses at one and find a more economical design. Better yet, a remodeling project on older models could be a more feasible theory.