Quicksplained: All we know about Russia’s new nuclear submarine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially launched the nuclear-powered submarine Perm, the latest addition to Russia’s naval arsenal, equipped with advanced hypersonic Zircon missiles.

The launch took place via video link from the Arctic port of Murmansk, where Putin issued the command: “I hereby authorise!”

Russian state agencies have confirmed that Perm is the first nuclear submarine to have Zircon missiles as a standard armament, enhancing its strategic capabilities.

What we know about the Perm, Russia’s new nuclear submarine: 

• Perm belongs to the Yasen and Yasen-M class of submarines, making it the sixth of its kind constructed at the Sevmash Shipyard near Murmansk. Unlike its predecessors, this version has been modified to accommodate Zircon missiles, a feature that distinguishes it from earlier models in the class.

• The submarine’s keel was laid in 2016, and after years of construction, it is now prepared to enter service.

• The Zircon missile, known as the 3M22 Zircon (Nato designation: SS-N-33), is capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 9 and has an operational range of approximately 900 km (560 miles).

• These attributes make it exceptionally difficult to intercept, giving the submarine a significant edge in modern naval warfare. The missile is designed for both anti-ship and land-attack roles, with the ability to carry conventional or nuclear warheads.

• Military analysts highlight that the introduction of Zircon missiles on submarines like Perm significantly reduces response times for enemy defences and enhances the capability to strike fortified targets. Putin has previously pointed out that these weapons have “no analogues in any country in the world.”

• During his visit to Murmansk, Putin also toured another submarine, Arkhangelsk, which belongs to the same class as Perm. Additionally, he inspected the Atomflot enterprise, which manages Russia’s fleet of nuclear icebreakers.

• The development of the Zircon missile began in the early 2010s, with its existence first publicly acknowledged in 2016. Test launches conducted between 2017 and 2019 demonstrated its effectiveness in striking both sea and land-based targets with high precision.

• By 2022, the missile was officially integrated into service, initially deployed on Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates. Plans are underway to expand its use across submarines and possibly land-based platforms in the future.

Several variants of the Zircon missile are in development or under consideration, including:

2. Naval variant: Designed for launch from surface ships and submarines, capable of targeting both naval and land assets.

3. Ground-based variant: Intended for coastal defence and deep-strike missions.

4. Submarine-launched variant: Equipped for stealth attacks with an extended range.

5. Potential air-launched variant: Could be launched from strategic bombers for increased operational flexibility.

6. Nuclear variant: Designed for strategic deterrence, with a nuclear payload option.

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With inputs from agencies