MOSCOW. Dec 27 (Interfax) - The Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine armed with cruise missiles has joined the Russian Navy, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"A ceremony transferring the fourth-generation Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine of Project Yasen-M to the Russian Navy took place at the USC's Sevmash today, on December 27, 2024," the ministry said.
"The Arkhangelsk submarine carries all types of sea-launched missiles capable of effectively destroying sea and coastal targets. This allows Yasen-M submarines to remain an effective, advanced weapon," Navy Commander Adm. Alexander Moiseyev said at the ceremony of the submarine's transfer to the Navy.
Construction of Yasen-M submarines will be continued, Moiseyev said.
"Four multirole nuclear submarines, the Perm, the Ulyanovsk, the Voronezh, and the Vladivostok, will join the Navy shortly," he said.
The Arkhangelsk will join the Northern Fleet, increase the potential and capabilities of its groups, he said.
"We have such ships in service at two fleets, the Northern and the Pacific. Plans under the current armament program involve equipping these fleets, in fact this is a transition to new projects," Moiseyev said by video link at the ministry.
The Arkhangelsk is a new-generation ship, he said. "The ship, weapon and hardware control system is radically different," Moiseyev said.
"The Arkhangelsk has a formidable strike capacity and high performance. It embodies advanced engineering solutions and modern systems and mechanisms. I have no doubt that this new submarine will serve as another compelling argument in defending national interests in the World Ocean," Sevmash General Director Mikhail Budnichenko said at the ceremony.
The Navy commander presented the St. Andrew flag to submarine commander Capt. 1st rank Alexander Gladkov at the ceremony, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, the Russian Navy is operating four Yasen and Yasen-M submarines, namely, the Severodvinsk, the Kazan, the Novosibirsk, and the Krasnoyarsk. Another four Yasen-M submarines are at various stages of construction.
The Arkhangelsk is the third serial multirole nuclear submarine of the Yasen-M project. According to official information, it is armed with Oniks and Kalibr missiles. Plans to arm Yasen-M submarines with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles have also been reported.