Are Russias Stealth Yasen-Class Submarines Untrackable?
Caleb Larson  Yasen-class,  One of the U.S. Navys top submarine officers was so impressed with the Severodvinsk that he had a model made for his office to remind him what the United States Navy is up against. Here's What You Need to Remember: Pentagon officials said that the Severodvinsk went into the Atlantic Ocean in 2018and managed to evade detection for weeks. In 2018, the Russian Navys most advanced submarine, the Severodvinsk, slipped into the Atlantic. For weeks the U.S. Navy couldnt find it. Heres why. Yasen-class  The Yasen-class is Russias most advanced nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine. The first of the class, the Severodvinsk , was commissioned into the Russian Navy in 2013 or 2014. One of the U.S. Navys top submarine officers was so impressed with the Severodvinsk that he had a model made for his office to remind him what the United States Navy is up against. Talking about naval threats from Russia, Rear Admiral Dave Johnson said Well be facing tough potential opponents. One only has to look at the Severodvinsk, Russias version of a [nuclear-guided missile submarine] (SSGN). I am so impressed with this ship that I had Carderock build a model from unclassified data.  The Whole Shebang  The Severodvinsk is incredibly advanced and leverages some technologies that the Soviet Union researched in the 1980s. It has a large spherical sonar array in the bow that is thought to be very sensitive. Because of the sonars large size, the torpedo tubes were moved from the nose to a position amidships near the submarines sail and are aimed at a forward angle. The Severodvinsks torpedo tubes are a mix of standard 533 millimeter and 650-millimeter heavyweight torpedos. The Severodvinsks hull is made of non or low-magnetic steel, which either significantly reduces or eliminates the Severodvinsks magnetic signature. Soviet (and now Russian) submarines have favored a double hull design in the past in which a hydrodynamic outer hull encapsulates a stronger inner pressure hull. The Severodvinsk uses a hybrid design, the outer hull only partially covers the inner hull. There is a high degree of automation in the Severodvinsk , and the subs crew complement is consequently smalljust sixty-five sailors and officers. In addition to missiles, the Severodvinsk has twenty-four tubes aft of the sail that can carry the P-800 Onyx anti-ship missiles or nuclear-capable Granat missiles. The Severodvinsk will be armed with Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missiles, a first in submarine armament. Silent as a Mouse  In an interview with 60 Minutes , a U.S. Navy Admiral said that Russia has a very capable submarine force, and that increased Russian submarine activity gives him pause. Talking about the Severodvinsk specifically, the Admiral said that the Severodvinsk is a brand new class of submarine, and its very capable, and its very quiet, so thats the most important thing I think, in submarine warfare.  Although he would not comment on reports that the U.S. Navy lost the Severodvinsk, Pentagon officials said that the Severodvinsk went into the Atlantic Ocean in 2018and managed to evade detection for weeks. During peacetime, losing a Russian submarine is a headache. During a conflict, losing track of a submarine is deadly. Caleb Larson holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy. He lives in Berlin and writes on U.S. and Russian foreign and defense policy, German politics, and culture  Image : Wikimedia Commons, Oleg Koleshov