At the end of July 2025, in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the commissioning ceremony for the KNYAZ POZHARSKY nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) took place. The event was held at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, located on the Kola Peninsula and belonging to the United Shipbuilding Corporation.

The new submarine is named after Prince Dmitry Pozharskyi, who became famous for leading the uprising that caused the Polish-Lithuanian army to flee Russia during the Russian-Polish conflict of 1609-1618.

Characterised by the distinctive K-555 optical sign (which is not present on the sail), the KNYAZ POZHARSKY is the fifth vessel in the BOREY-A class, built according to Project 955A, which is an evolution of Project 955, on which three YURIY DOLGORUKIY-class submarines were previously built: the eponymous one, the ALEXANDR NEVSKY and the VLADIMIR MONOMAKH. Officially referred to as a “missile submarine for strategic purposes”, Project 955A was developed by the Rubin Marine Technology Design Bureau, a naval engineering firm based in St. Petersburg with extensive design experience in the underwater sector. The BOREY-A vessels are 165 m long and have a submerged displacement of approximately 25,000 tonnes, making them larger than their BOREY-class predecessors.Thermal energy is provided by a 190 MW OK-650V nuclear reactor, which produces steam for a 36 MW OK-9 GTZA turbo-reduction engine.

The new feature that distinguishes the KNYAZ POZHARSKY from previous vessels is the presence of a pump-jet propulsion system, whose performance is likely to be closely monitored by Western naval forces.

Electricity is generated by two 3.2 MW turbogenerators and three lower-power diesel generators. The vessel is also equipped with emergency electric propulsion systems.

Another peculiarity of this vessel is an MGK-600B Irtysh-Amfora-Borei electroacoustic suite, whose main element is a spherical transducer located at the bow. The raison d'être and main armament of the KNYAZ POZHARSKY is the D-30 BULAVA missile system consisting of 16 3M30 ballistic missiles (SS-N-32, according to NATO designation), in two groups of eight silos side by side, aft of the sail. Each missile can carry up to 10 MIRV warheads, including 100 kT nuclear warheads, and has an estimated maximum range of 8,300 km. The armament is completed by six 533 mm tubes for heavy torpedoes and a similar number of REPS-324 SHLAGBAUM launchers for various models of torpedo countermeasures. The crew is expected to consist of 107 servicemen, including 55 officers.

With regard to the construction programme, the KNYAZ POZHARSKY was laid down on 23 December 2016, launched in February 2024 and began sea trials in July of the same year. The trial campaign lasted for about a year, a relatively short period for a unit of this type and probably indicative of the high level of efficiency of the Sevmash shipyards. The KNYAZ POZHARSKY has been assigned to the 31st Submarine Division of the Northern Fleet, based in Gadzhiyevo. Two more BOREY-A boats are under construction, namely the DMITRY DONSKOY and KNYAZ POTEMKIN, which were launched simultaneously on 23 August 2021 and are scheduled to enter service in 2026 and 2027/28, respectively. At that point, if everything goes according to plan, the Russian Navy will have 10 BOREY/BOREY-A class nuclear ballistic missile submarines in service, completing the replacement of the obsolete DOLPHIN/DELTA IV class vessels.

(photo: lined up on deck, the crew of the KNYAZ POZHARSKY prepares for the ceremony marking its entry into service with the Russian Navy.)

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