Project 885 Yasen / Graney / Granay
Severodvinsk class
This new attack submarine design is a further derivative of the Project 971 Akula. The original idea of the "universal silos" was a design with a multi-task profile, making it possible to change the profile of weapons loaded to adjust to several missions. It features a significant cruise missile capability with eight vertical launch tubes for RKB-500 aft of the sail. The multipurpose Severodvinsk nuclear submarine program, being built under the 855-Yasen Program, was to carry eight launching devices with 24 P-100 Onyx high-precision stealth anti-ship cruise missiles. Subsequently it was reported that the Severodvinsk will be armed with 24 SS-N-26 Oniks missiles arranged in eight triple SM-315 launchers. [Other reports suggest it carried twenty SS-N-17, but this seemed improbable].
Project 885 may be intended to eventually replace the 945 Barrakuda [NATO Sierra] and 949A Antei [NATO Oscar II], so that only two classes of attack submarines will eventually remain in the navy.
One sourcess suggest that the Project 885 Yasen (Granay) is just a replacement for the 949A Antei [NATO Oscar II]. This would make the Yasen an "aircraft-carrier-killer". By this account, the main difference between the earlier 949A Antei [NATO Oscar II] and Project 885 Yasen consists in the later's ability to strike both coastal and warship targets with new supersonic cruise missiles. Another account, consistent with official Russian statments, suggests that the Yasen was to be just the follow on of the 971 Schuka-B (NATO Akula), and was not designed as a replacement of Oscar-II.
The hull is made of low magnetic steel, with a spherical bow sonar. According to Western intelligence estimates, the Severodvinsk was assessed as probably being only slightly quieter than the improved Akula. It would have with expanded missions with better anti-submarine capabilities (the first Russian spherical sonar, much improved sensors of other types, data fusion techniques, etc).
The NATO's reporting name for the Yasen ["ash tree"] project is GRANAY [also seen as GRANEY]. An ash tree can be identified by its distinctive leaves and bark. Ash trees have several leaves per leaf stem and the leaves are located directly across from each other. The totally unrelated Project 877, designated the Kilo by Western intelligence, is a much smaller non-nuclear diesel-electric submarine developed in two parallel projects - the Granay for the Soviet Navy and the Warshavyanka for export. The provenance of this designation is completely obscure. In Russian, "graney" is the instrumental singular of "gran'", which means boundary, verge, brink, etc. So graney would be "by means of a boundary." Granay, a populated place in in Saint-Etienne, Rhône-Alpes, France, Europe, is also known as Grand Granay. Bounded by the districts of Tirunelveli to the north and the east, Kanyakumari was once termed as The Granay of Travancore. The narrow Graney River leads to the town of Scarriff, Ireland. The River Graney issues from Lough Graney in the barony of Tulla, and passing through Lough O'Grady, falls into Lough Derg at Scariff bay.
Work on the Severodvinsk, the first [and for many years, the only] submarine of this class, started in 1992. The formal naming of "Severodvinsk", took place on 21 December 1993, at the Northern machine-building enterprise" (g. of severodvinsk). The Severodvinsk had been scheduled to be commissioned before 1998. However, subsequently operation for the financial reasons was sharply slowed down. Work ceased in 1996 due to finanacial problems. According to some reports the boat was actually launched before work halted, with other reports suggest that as of 1999 the submarine was less than 10 percent complete. At that time, it was estimated that Severodvinsk would enter service in 2006-2008. But work remained suspended as of 2001.
In 2003 Sevmash reportedly received extra funding to accelerate the completion of this submarine. As of September 2004 work was said to be moving forward, on a rather rapid pace compared to the older speed of building. The Borei class SSBN had gotten a higher priority and was anticipated to be in service much faster than Severodvinsk.
Up to seven units were reportedly planned, but by 2004 there were questions as to whether any will ever enter service. Under the economic conditions the yard conducted a fight for the survival of the project. The generally low priority attached to this program must be understood in the context of Russian force level objectives. By 2005 the Russian submarine fleet included 8 949A Antei [NATO Oscar II] cruise missile submarines, and a total of about 20 nuclear attack submarines of the 971 Schuka-B (NATO Akula), 945 Barrakuda (NATO Sierra), and 671 Shchuka (NATO Victor) classes. Given the relative youth of these units, and a low operating tempo conserving reactor core life, all of these submarines could be expected to remain in service through the year 2020.
In July 2006 it was reported that Vladislav Putilin, the deputy chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission, stated that under the Russian State Armaments Program for 2007-2015, the Navy will receive several dozen surface ships and submarines, including five Project 955 Borey nuclear-powered strategic ballistic missile submarines equipped with new Bulava-30 ballistic missiles, two Project 885 Yasen nuclear-powered multipurpose submarines, six Project 677 Lada diesel-electric submarines, three Project 22350 multipurpose frigates and five Project 20380 corvettes.
Kommersant reported on July 04, 2006 that "It was laid down on the Severodvinsk at Sevmashpredpriyatie on January 22, 1993, with a completion date of 2000. However, practically no funds have been allotted for it in the 2006 state defense order, so the future of the project is in question. Originally, the military planned to build another six of the craft. They were to receive a significant portion of the non-nuclear deterrence - the submarine was to be the "aircraft carrier killer." At present, the Defense Ministry does not consider it necessary to invest in more Yasens and prefers to concentrate its finances on the Boreis."
On 12 January 2007 ShipbuildingRu reported that Russian Navy's Commander Admiral Vladimir Masorin said the submarine Navy has "three basic directions - strategic, rocket and subs of smaller displacement, with the primary goal of anti-sub actions, which is protection against strike forces". "So far the design bureau did not deal with such projects, but this class of a submarine is sure to be commissioned with the Navy", - the Commander stated. As he emphasized "we have similar subs, but they will leave, and instead of them it is necessary to build new". We have time - about 10 years", - he added. These statements were made in the context of answering the questions regarding the expected commission of the project 855 Yasen subnmarine Severodvinsk. "In 2008 there will be the start of the commissioning of the nuclear submarines of the fourth generation. Then will go further. I would not be like to stick to specific dates. We have terms, all is certain. The industry promises all to finish in target dates", - Mr. Masorin made it clear that he does not expect technological or financial problems. Answering the question about the reasons for the long (10 years) construction of a boat, he said: "Because the sub is very complicated, there are too much new systems, weapons. The more new in a sub, the more difficult it is to build ". The Commander emphasized that "Severodvinsk" is much more complicated that than another submarine under construction on "Sevmash", strategic carrier "Yuri Dolgoruky". "Severodvinsk has both, more diverse arms and more diverse tactics".
On 11 September 2007 ShipbuildingRu reported that the newest multi-purpose nuclear submarine Severodvinsk will be commissioned with the Navy in 2009, according to the head of the department for procurement, orders and deliveries of the ships, naval arms and military technic of Ministry of Defense Vice-Admiral Anatoly Shlemov.
On 25 July 2008 it was reported that Navy commander Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky stated that the construction of new-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile and attack submarines is a top priority for the Russian Navy's development. In 2009, the Russian Navy will receive the first nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Project 885 Yasen (Graney) class, named Severodvinsk, Vysotsky said.
The active submarines of the Akula class are in restricted service to conserve their remaining reactor core lives. Assuming the nominal 30 year service life of their American counterparts, the oldest Akula I submarines might be withdrawn from service by around 2015, with all but the Gepard Akula II being withdrawn from service by 2025. The restricted service of these boats might easily extend their useful lives to 35 years, suggesting a phase-out in the 2020-2030 timeframe. The remaining four active Victor III submarines may be in restricted service, to conserve their remaining reactor core lives. Assuming the nominal 30 year service life of their American counterparts, at least the four youngest remaining Victor III submarines [if not even K-412] might remain in service until around 2020, but surely not much beyond that date.
Retaining the prevailing inventory of 21 active attack submarines would require completing a total of at least five and possibly as many as eight Yasen-class submarines by around 2020, in addition to the pair slated for delivery prior to 2015. This could imply a construction rate of two boats a year for about four years in the 2020 timeframe, though the pace might slow to one a year thereafter.
