The nuclear submarines "Prince Oleg" and "Novosibirsk" arrived at the place of permanent deployment in Kamchatka, where they will serve as part of the Pacific Fleet.

This was reported in the Russian Defense Ministry.

"Nuclear missile submarine strategic purpose (project 955A, "Borey-A") "Prince Oleg" and nuclear submarine with cruise missiles (project 885M, "Ash-M") "Novosibirsk", having made an inter-fleet transition from the Northern to the Pacific Fleet , arrived at the point of permanent deployment in Kamchatka, ”the defense department of the Russian Federation said.

Submarines passed a significant part of the route, almost 5.5 thousand miles long, under the Arctic ice, the Ministry of Defense emphasized.

In addition, Novosibirsk, as part of the Umka-2022 integrated Arctic expedition, launched an Onyx cruise missile at a sea target from a surface position from the Chukchi Sea.

  • In Kamchatka, they met the nuclear submarines "Prince Oleg" and "Novosibirsk", which arrived at the place of permanent deployment

The nuclear cruisers were met by the commander of the submarine forces of the Pacific Fleet, Vice Admiral Vladimir Dmitriev.

“He accepted the report of the nuclear submarine commanders on the completion of the Arctic inter-naval transition and congratulated the submariners on their arrival at their permanent base,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Subsea power

The strategic missile submarine "Knyaz Oleg" is the first serial strategic submarine missile carrier produced according to the modernized project 955A "Borey-A".

It differs from the first boats of the Borey project by lower noise, improved systems for maneuvering, keeping at depth and controlling weapons.

Submarines of projects 955 "Borey" and 955A "Borey-A" carry 16 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles.

They have the possibility of a so-called dry launch: before launch, the shaft from which the rocket flies out is not filled with water.

This property makes it possible to reduce the probability of detecting a submarine by enemy sonar.

In addition, the Bulava can be launched from under the thickness of the Arctic ice without the need to first break through it.

"Novosibirsk" is the first serial multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the fourth generation of project 885M "Ash-M", equipped with cruise missiles.

The basis of the arsenal of these nuclear submarines are Caliber cruise missiles and Onyx supersonic anti-ship missiles.

The main task of the Yasen submarines is to track and destroy both strategic submarines and surface and even ground targets.

"Ash" is equipped with eight vertical shafts, which provide the possibility of salvo firing of high-precision cruise missiles "Caliber" and "Onyx".

Pacific Gain

Over the past few years, Russia has stepped up efforts to saturate the Pacific Fleet (Pacific Fleet) of the Russian Navy with strategic nuclear submarines.

So, in 2015, the “strategist” of project 955 Borey, the Alexander Nevsky submarine, arrived to serve in the Pacific Fleet.

Then the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Chirkov, said that the grouping of strategic nuclear submarines of the Russian Federation in the Pacific Ocean would be supported and developed.

  • Solemn ceremony of launching the submarine of the project "Ash-M" "Novosibirsk"

  • RIA News

  • © Press service of JSC "PO "Sevmash"

The strengthening of the submarine component of the Pacific Fleet did not go unnoticed in the West.

In 2016, the head of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, at a congressional hearing, said that the US Navy in the region lacks submarines, while Russia is building up its submarine forces.

However, plans to strengthen the Pacific Fleet with strategic missile submarines did not stop at the Alexander Nevsky alone.

In October 2021, Rear Admiral Arkady Navarsky, Chief of Staff of the Command of the Submarine Forces of the Pacific Fleet, announced that in the coming years the fleet would be reinforced with two "strategists" of Project 955 Borey-A and two nuclear submarines of Project 885M Yasen-M.

“According to the armament plan, in the coming years, our association is planned to be strengthened with new nuclear submarines, which will significantly strengthen the naval component of the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces.

We are expecting the arrival of four submarines - two Boreas and two Ashes.

Their construction is almost completed.

Some of them are already participating in sea trials, ”said the military leader.

Navarsky also said that the construction of a modern berthing infrastructure is at the final stage, which will provide the submarines at the base with everything necessary: ​​electricity, water and oxygen.

Signal to potential adversaries

Strengthening the Pacific Fleet with new strategic submarines and nuclear submarines is becoming necessary in the current military-political situation, as it will reliably protect Russian waters from military provocations and attacks by a potential enemy, Konstantin Strelbitsky, chairman of the Moscow Fleet History Club, said in a conversation with RT.

“The choice of this basing site is due to the presence of access to the open ocean to the shores of our potential enemy.

Submarine strategic cruisers are one of the most important foundations of the nuclear triad.

In the world's oceans, it is impossible to constantly and accurately track the movements of submarines.

Such a ship with strategic nuclear weapons on board poses a colossal danger to any adversary,” the expert said.

A limited number of fleets of the countries of the world can afford to maintain a strategic submarine, and today only the United States and Russia operate them in more than a single quantity, Konstantin Strelbitsky emphasized.

“Is it important to relocate Knyaz Oleg and Novosibirsk in the context of the current geopolitical situation?

Yes, it's important.

Traditionally, the actions of our Pacific Fleet were aimed at deterring our potential adversary in the face of the United States and its allies.

So the reinforcement of the Pacific Fleet by the Borey-A and Yasen-M submarines is of a preventive nature, ”explained the interlocutor of RT.

In turn, military expert Yuri Knutov recalled that after the start of the special operation in Ukraine, the strategic forces of the Russian Federation were put on full alert.

“Their main purpose is to deter any attempts by NATO and the United States to threaten our country with nuclear weapons.

Thus, an increase in the submarine grouping in the Pacific Ocean will ensure the most reliable security for Russia in the event of threats to use nuclear weapons, ”the military expert emphasized.

The saturation of the Pacific Fleet with strategic submarines and the strengthening of the underwater component of the Russian nuclear triad in the face of growing conflict in the world will give a clear signal to potential adversaries of Russia and therefore are of “fundamental importance,” Yuri Knutov concluded.