667BDRM Dolphin DELTA IV - Program
Sources are in uncommonly good agreement on the number and naming of the units of this class. Preliminary design work on the new R-29RM missile began by the mid-1970s, and the collective under S.N. Kovaleva started developing the new submarine for it in September 1975, hand in hand with the creation of the Typhoon. The first of the new project was laid down in February 1981, launched in February 1985, and handed over to the northern fleet in December of that year. It got the classification index 667BDRM, NATO-Delta IV, and start-name "Dolphin".
Prior to 1990 seven "Dolphins" passed into the northern fleet. It was assumed that they would be built in the future, and together with the "Typhoon" would form the basis of Soviet forces until it was replaced by a new, even better design. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the ensuing profound political, social and economic crisis in all post-Soviet countries put an end to those plans. At least two further units had been cancelled before completion.
The operational lifetime of these submarines is estimated to be 20-30 years, though in order to operate a ship for this period requires that a major overhaul be performed every 7-8 years. Otherwise, a submarine's service life shrinks to 10-15 years. The four-year repair works on the first Delta-IV (K-51) submarine were completed in November 1999 at Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk. The submarine was expected to operate from its home base in Gadzhievo at the Kola Peninsula for 5-7 more years.
As of June 2000 the Russian Navy claimed that it operates 26 strategic nuclear submarines carrying 2,272 nuclear warheads on 440 ballistic missiles. This force was said to consist of 5 Typhoon class submarines, 7 Delta-IV class submarines, and 13 Delta-III class submarines [which only adds up to 25, not 26 submarines]. Not all of these submarines were seaworthy.
The six remaining units of this class were placed in commission between 1988 and 1992. Based on a typical service life expectancy for American attack submarines of 30 years, these units might be retired in the 2018-2022 timeframe. However, based on the apparent 42 year nominal service life of the American SSBN-726 Ohio Class submarines, the 667BDRM submarines might expect to remain in service through the 2030-2035 timeframe. As of June 2000 the Russian Navy reportedly believed that 12 strategic nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles represented the minimum necessary force structure. According to media reports a classified presidential decree of 04 March 2000 established this force goal for the period through 2010.
Six boats remained in service as of January 2004. As of January 2007, The Russian Nuclear Forces Project reported that the Northern Fleet 12th Squadron, based in Gadzhiyevo (Yagelnaya Bay, Sayda Inlet), included three active Project 667BDRM (Delta IV) submarines (K-51 Verkhoturie, K-84 Ekaterinburg, and K-407 Novomoskovsk) and three Project 667BDRM submarines - K-114 Tula, K-117 Bryansk, and K-18 Karelia that were currently undergoing overhaul and were expected to return to active service. Then current plans called for keeping six 667BDRM submarines in service.
On 03 August 2007, Minister of Defense Valeri Serduykov reported that the new R-29RGU Sineva SLBM had already begun: three Delta IV (Project 667 BDRM) submarines had been overhauled, which included installation of the new missiles, and two more were undergoing similar refitting. The K-114 Tula submarine of the Delta IV/Project 667BDRM class was the third in line to get them, after K-51 Verkhoturie and K-84 Ekaterinburg. The submarines of the Delta IV/Project 667BDRM class can operate 10 years more thanks to the overhauls.
"Svezda" specializes in the repair of the nuclear submarine project 667BDRM "Dolphin" (Delta IV by NATO classification). In July 2012, "Svezda" transferred to the Navy nuclear submarine "Novomoskovsk", thus completing the modernization of six representatives of the project 667BDRM "Verkhoturye" (1999), "Yekaterinburg" (2003), "Tula" (2006), "Bryansk" (2008 ) and "Karelia" (2010). As of 2015 there was already a second cycle factory repair submarines of this series - it took "Verkhoturye", and the following year in 2014 the shipyard prepared to take "Tula".
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