Russia Launches Sixth Yasen-M Nuclear Submarine Ulyanovsk

Published Jul 29, 08:28 AM UTC

The Russian United Shipbuilding Corporation's Sevmash shipyard held a ceremony to move the multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarine Ulyanovsk out of its construction hall, marking completion of the slipway construction phase. Ulyanovsk is the sixth submarine in Russia's modernized Yasen-M class (Project 885M), designed for land-attack and anti-ship cruise missile strikes as well as anti-submarine warfare. Five Yasen and Yasen-M submarines currently serve in the Russian Navy. On June 17, 2026, Sevmash laid the keel for a ninth vessel, Murmansk, the first new keel-laying in six years. Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Alexander Moiseyev attended the ceremony and confirmed the submarine will join the Northern Fleet. The vessel faces roughly a year of sea trials before formal handover, expected as late as December 2027. The class carries Kalibr, Oniks, and Zircon hypersonic missiles, drawing Western concern over NATO's North Atlantic advantage.