Russia Launches First Sub with Zircon Hypersonic Missiles
Vladimir Putin launched the sixth Yasen-M class nuclear-powered attack submarine, the Perm on March 27. The Perm will be the first Russian nuclear submarine to be equipped with 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles.
The Sevmash shipyard at Severodvinsk conducted the commencement ceremony for the Perm on July 29, 2016. Russia’s continuous naval shipbuilding program reached a key stage with the submarine’s launch. The Perm is set to officially join the Russian Navy in 2026.
During the ceremony Vladimir Putin said: We have and will continue to strengthen the Navy, including its strategic component, while steadily increasing the pace and scale of construction for both surface warships and submarines across various projects, equipping them with the latest weapons, technology and communications systems”, continuing, “They will help uphold Russia’s national interests in various parts of the World Ocean, including the Arctic zone, which is gaining tremendous economic, logistical and transport significance amid growing global competition.”
The new boat is the second Russian naval vessel to bear the name Perm. The B-292 Perm served from 2002 until 2005. The advanced Yasen-M class (Project 885M) submarine group established the new Perm as its newest member. The Malakhit Marine Engineering Bureau under Chief Designer Vladimir Pyalov designed the Yasen-M submarines for production at Sevmash which belongs to United Shipbuilding Corporation. Since 2009 Sevmash has undertaken the production of Yasen-class submarines.
Perm is the first Yasen-M boat with specific modifications that enable deployment of Zircon hypersonic missiles which can reach claimed speeds of up to Mach 9. Yasen-M submarines delivered to date included the Kazan and Novosibirsk which came in 2021 followed by Krasnoyarsk set for 2023 delivery and the upcoming Arkhangelsk scheduled for 2024. The shipbuilding facilities are constructing additional submarines which include Ulyanovsk, Voronezh, and Vladivostok.
The Perm runs on a KTP-6-185SP pressurized water-cooled nuclear reactor system which produces 200 megawatts of power matching the equivalent ability of 268,000 horsepower. The reactor can operate for 25 to 30 years without requiring maintenance between its operational periods. Natural coolant circulation technology allows the submarine to run silently which improves its ability to remain stealthy. Under propulsion control a single shaft works with low-noise propellers combined with two thrusters which enables the Perm vessel to reach its maximum underwater speed of 31 knots and surface speed of 16 knots. The submarine has a maximum diving capability of 600 meters and its standard operational depth is 520 meters. The Yasen-M boats can remain submerged for extended periods of up to 100 days. The submarines has a crew of sixty-four and is equipped with both missiles and toroedoes. Perm carries USET-80 Fizik-2 torpedoes and naval mines as well as eight vertical launch systems that can accommodate either four P-800 Onyx anti-ship cruise missiles or four 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missiles or five 3M14 Kalibr cruise missiles within each system.