In the coming years, the Russian navy should receive several new submarines of different classes and designs. In addition to building new submarines, it is planned to modernize several old ones, increasing their characteristics to the required level. As it became known a few days ago, preparations have begun for the repair and modernization of one of the fleet's submarines. The Severodvinsk Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center has begun preparations for the repair of the B-239 Karp multipurpose nuclear submarine.
The recently started work is being carried out under a contract of the Ministry of Defense, concluded at the end of 2012. In accordance with this document, the Zvezdochka enterprise must repair and modernize both the Project 945 Barracuda multipurpose nuclear submarines of the Navy. After repairs, the two third-generation submarines are expected to improve their performance and thus be able to compete with the newer submarines. The B-239 "Karp" submarine will be the first to be repaired and modernized, then the submarine B-276 "Kostroma" will be brought to the plant's shop. It will take several years to complete the work.
As reported by the press service of the enterprise "Zvezdochka", at the present time the ship repairmen are preparing for the first stage of work - the unloading of nuclear fuel from the submarine's reactor. This "operation number one" will take some time. By the end of the year, it is planned to place the submarine "Karp" in the shop of the shipyard, after which repair work will begin. In accordance with the contract, the Zvezdochka plant is to transfer the upgraded submarine to the fleet in 2017. The timing of the completion of the repair of the boat "Kostroma" is still unknown.
Reportedly, the repair and modernization of two Project 945 Barracuda nuclear submarines will improve their performance and increase their service life. The service life of the boats can be extended by about 10 years, but there is no exact information on this yet: the final decision will later be made by the Ministry of Defense. It is quite possible that the boats "Karp" and "Kostroma" after the repair will remain in service for a much longer period.
On the left is the large nuclear submarine "Pskov" of project 945A "Condor", on the right is the nuclear submarine "Kostroma" of project 945 "Barracuda". The main visual difference is the shape of the bow of the retractable enclosure and the conning tower
Project 945 multipurpose nuclear submarines belong to the third generation. Their construction began in the late seventies. The lead submarine "Karp" was laid down in mid-1979 and commissioned in September 84th. The second submarine of the project, "Krab" (now "Kostroma"), was built from 1984 to 1986 and became part of the Northern Fleet in 1987. In 1998, the nuclear submarine B-239 "Karp" was withdrawn from the fleet for economic reasons. Over the next time, the head "Barracuda" was laid up in the city of Severodvinsk. The submarine "Kostroma" was in reserve in 2000-2008, and since 2003 it has been undergoing repairs. Currently, "Kostroma" is once again in the combat formation of the Northern Fleet.
Double-hull submarines 107 m long have a surface displacement of 6,300 tons and an underwater displacement of 8,200 tons. Titanium and its alloys are widely used in the design. The boats are equipped with a nuclear power plant with OK-650A reactors with a thermal power of 190 MW. The power of the main turbo-gear unit is 50 thousand hp. With such a power plant "Barracudas" are able to develop surface speed up to 12, 5 knots and underwater speed up to 35 knots. The design of the hull allows you to dive to a depth of 480 m (working) or 600 m (maximum). The submarine crew consists of 60 people, autonomy is 100 days.
The armament of Project 945 Barracuda multipurpose nuclear submarines consists of two 650 mm torpedo tubes and four 533 mm torpedo tubes. According to various sources, the submarine's ammunition load includes up to 12 65-76 torpedoes or missiles of the Vodopad anti-submarine missile system launched through torpedo tubes of 650 mm caliber. There are up to 32 different types of ammunition for use with 533 mm torpedo tubes: USET-80 torpedoes, Shkval and Waterfall missiles.
Details of the modernization of the "Barracuda" are still unknown. Earlier, unconfirmed reports appeared, according to which, during the repair, almost all on-board systems, electronics and weapons will be replaced. The nuclear power plant will also undergo repair and modernization. Due to the lack of official information, various opinions are expressed, which, however, may not be confirmed in the future. It is possible that the modernization of the Project 945 nuclear submarine will use the systems and equipment used on submarines of other projects, for example, 885 Yasen. It is likely that as a result of modernization, the Barracuda submarine will receive a new weapon, namely the Caliber missile system.
By the end of this year, the first of the submarines being repaired, B-239 "Karp", will be brought into the workshop of the enterprise, after which work will begin on its repair and modernization. The submarine will return to service tentatively in 2017. After that, "Zvezdochka" will be engaged in the restoration of the submarine B-276 "Kostroma". The timing of the completion of the repair of "Kostroma" is still unknown and, probably, has not yet been determined.
