Testing of nuclear submarine concluded

The testing program of the modernized Russian strategic nuclear Delta-IV class submarine K-18 “Kareliya”, which has been carried out in the White Sea this autumn, is now finished.

In all, the submarine has been on sea trials in the White Sea three times. “Kareliya” is moored at the Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast, where the last adjustments and final painting of the submarine will take place, ARMS-TASS reports. After this the submarine will leave the shipyard for its base in the Northern Fleet.

The submarine has been at the Zvezdochka shipyard since October 2004. The modernization has prolonged the submarine’s lifetime with approximately ten years and improved its tactical and technical performance considerably.

According to Wikipedia, “Kareliya” is one of seven Delta-IV class nuclear submarines built from 1985 to 1992. All are still in service in the Russian navy today. Five submarines have already gone through modernization at the Zvezdochka shipyard.

After the modernization the submarine’s main weapon system is the Sineva ballistic missile. According to Wikipedia, it can carry ten 100kT warheads. In a test launch on 11 October 2008, an R-29RMU travelled 11,547 kilometers downrange.

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