Russia Launches Nuclear Submarine And Confirms Hypersonic Missile Boat Plans

Russian Navy Yasen-M-class submarine Ulyanovsk prior to her hitting the water for the first time in Severodvinsk this week. Images: Sevmash

31/07/2026

Russia has launched a new Yasen-M-class submarine and has also confirmed its first boat carrying hypersonic missiles will enter service this year.

State-owned shipbuilding firm Sevmash held a ceremony to mark the launch of its sixth Yasen-M-class submarine Ulyanovsk in Severodvinsk on Tuesday.

Like the previous boat in the class, Perm, it has been designed and built from the outset to carry up to 32 Zircon hypersonic missiles, which have a range of up to 600 miles and can travel at Mach 9.

Ulyanovsk has been floated off and will continue her final outfitting while moored alongside at the Severodvinsk yard ahead of her sea trials and a scheduled December 2027 delivery date.

However, Russia has also revealed that Perm, which was launched at the same yard at the end of March last year, is due to enter active service before the end of 2026.

At the Ulyanovsk’s launch ceremony Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Alexander Moiseyev commented: “In June of this year, the Murmansk nuclear-powered submarine was laid down… and today, the sixth cruiser in this class, the Ulyanovsk, is being launched.

“This demonstrates the systematic work being carried out to modernize the Navy’s fleet and enhance its combat capabilities. The Ulyanovsk still needs to be completed afloat and undergo a series of trials.”

And at a meeting in the Kremlin, Cdr Moiseyev added: “By the end of the year, we plan to commission a further 21 vessels, including the first nuclear-powered submarine armed with the Zircon hypersonic missile system — the Project Yasen-M submarine Perm.

“We also plan to complete the modernisation and overhaul of the nuclear-powered cruiser Admiral Nakhimov and the nuclear-powered attack submarine Leopard.”

The Russian Navy currently has the base model Severodvinsk and four other Yasen-M-class boats in service: Kazan, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Arkhangelsk. More similar boats are planned, with the tenth boat in the class, Murmansk, having been laid down in June.