Photographs of the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine cruiser K-555 “Prince Pozharsky,” part of the modified Project 09552 (Project 955A, code name “Borey-A”), currently undergoing state trials are available in open source. Built for the Russian Navy, the submarine underwent its first sea trials on July 28, 2024, at the Joint Stock Company “Northern Machine-Building Enterprise” (Sevmash, part of the Joint Stock Company “United Shipbuilding Corporation” (USC) in Severodvinsk. It returned to Severodvinsk on October 14, 2024, after completing another stage of trials.
The “Prince Pozharsky” submarine cruiser is expected to be commissioned into the 31st Submarine Division of the Northern Fleet’s Submarine Forces in December 2024.
The “Prince Pozharsky” is the fifth nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine cruiser (SSBN) of the modified Project 09552 and the eighth overall next-generation nuclear missile submarine of the “Borey” family.
The Russian Ministry of Defense and USC signed a contract on May 25, 2012, for the construction of four serial SSBNs of Project 955A. On December 23, 2016, the Sevmash Shipyard laid down the fourth and final SSBN under this contract, K-555 “Prince Pozharsky.” On February 3, 2024, they moved the ship from the construction dock for its subsequent launch.
Under this contract, the Sevmash Shipyard officially laid down the lead SSBN, K-552 “Prince Oleg,” on July 27, 2014, moved it off the dock on July 16, 2020, and delivered it to the Russian Navy on December 21, 2021.
On December 26, 2014, Sevmash laid down the second ship under this contract, K-553 “Generalissimus Suvorov,” moved it from the dock on December 25, 2021, and handed it over to the Russian Navy on December 29, 2022.
On December 18, 2015, Sevmash laid down the third SSBN under this contract, K-554 “Emperor Alexander III,” moved it from the dock on December 29, 2022, and delivered it to the Russian Navy on December 11, 2023.
In July 2020, the Russian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with USC for the construction of two more SSBNs of Project 955A (09552, “Borey-A”). Their official keel-laying under the names “Dmitry Donskoy” (factory number 209) and “Prince Potemkin” (factory number 210) took place at Sevmash on August 23, 2021.
USC and the Russian Ministry of Defense signed a separate contract on May 25, 2012, for the construction of the lead SSBN, K-549 “Prince Vladimir,” at Sevmash. The official keel-laying of “Prince Vladimir” took place in Severodvinsk on July 30, 2012 (actual construction began in 2009). On November 17, 2017, they moved the ship from the dock. On November 28, 2018, the ship underwent its first sea trials from Severodvinsk, and on June 12, 2020, the Russian Navy commissioned it.
Previously, Sevmash completed the construction and delivery of three SSBNs of Project 955 (09551, “Borey”) to the Russian Navy: K-535 “Yury Dolgoruky” (delivered to the Navy on January 10, 2013), K-550 “Alexander Nevsky” (delivered on December 23, 2013), and K-551 “Vladimir Monomakh” (delivered on December 19, 2014).
Out of the seven SSBNs of the Project 955 series commissioned to date, the lead ship of Project 09551 (Project 955, code name “Borey”), K-535 “Yury Dolgoruky,” and the lead ship of the modified Project 09552 (Project 955A, code name “Borey-A”), K-549 “Prince Vladimir,” serve with the Northern Fleet (31st Submarine Division). The Pacific Fleet, with a base in Vilyuchinsk (25th Submarine Division), deploys the serial submarines of Project 09551 (Project 955, code name “Borey”), K-550 “Alexander Nevsky” and K-551 “Vladimir Monomakh,” and the cruisers of Project 09552 (Project 955A, code name “Borey-A”), K-552 “Prince Oleg,” K-553 “Generalissimus Suvorov,” and K-554 “Emperor Alexander III.”
