Yasen Class

Yasen class internal layout

It can be a little confusing when looking up information on this class of Russian submarine. There are many different names that this class has been called.

First the Russian Navy refers to the project as Project 885 Yasen (Russian: Проект 885 "Ясень", Yasen means ash tree). The class is also sometimes referred to as the Severodvinsk class because this is the lead ship in the class. There is also the term Graney class, but this has been used less and less.

Severodvinsk getting underway

The lead ship of this class was launched in September of 2011, and later that month put to sea for sea trials. It is expected that the Severodvinsk will join the fleet in the latter half of 2012. The second boat of the class, Kazan, is currently under construction.  

Yasen Class in drydock

The Severodvinsk was initially laid down in 1992 and was delayed for financial reasons. The price of the lead ship is believed to be more than one billion US dollars. The follow-on ships of the class will feature upgraded weapons and electronics packages.

 

The Yasen class submarines are multi-role submarines that were developed from lessons learned from the Akula, Oscar, and Alfa class submarines.

 

According to several naval analysts this class will be the quietest Russian submarine ever built, but that has yet to be confirmed.

K-329 Severodvinsk can be seen in Google Earth at 64°34′31″N 39°48′02″E / 64.575181°N 39.800550°E.

Russia is planning to built 10 of these submarines, to replace older Soviet submarines.

Here is a layout for the Russian speakers out there.

Ties to the Indian Navy

I wrote about this subject just about a month ago, but the ties between the Indian and Russian navies are once again in the news.

Officially on Wednesday the INS Chakra was accepted by the Indian Navy. This contract was signed for 10 years, and is worth one billion dollars to the Russian Navy. But this may not be the only delivery this year to the Indian Navy. 

INS Chakra being commissioned in the Indian navy

The Vikramaditya (previously the Admiral Gorskov of the Soviet and Russian Navy) will be delivered to the Indian Navy by the end of 2012.

The Vikramaditya  in the shipyard at Severodvinsk.

Several more Talwar class frigates will also be delivered before the end of the year.

Talwar (Krivak III) class frigate

All three of these deals have been delayed. In some cases the Indians have endured several years worth of delays, and restructuring of contracts. Like a lot of promises made in the Russian defense industry, only time will tell if these promises are fulfilled. 

NATO vs. Russia

During the cold war NATO assigned reporting names for Soviet/Russian submarines. This was done in order to streamline reporting among the NATO allies. So that France didn't call a ship on thing, and Germany call it something completly different.  The names were often derived from the NATO alphabet.

Here is a list of the reporting names for Soviet/Russian submarines and ships.

Painting of an ALFA class submarine.

The practice for surface ships was to name the class after the lead ship of that class.

Everything went according to the plan until the late 1980's when the Typhoon class submarine came out. This class caused confusion in reporting circles because it is called Typhoon by NATO, but Akula by the Soviets.

After the fall of the Soviet Union NATO adopted the process of calling the class after the lead ship in the class. That's why we now have the Severodvinsk class and Borei class submarines. But even these are often called by different names.