Since the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States have tried to outdo each other in the development of strategic weapons, especially submarine forces.
Today Russia has made significant progress in building advanced nuclear submarines, and is even ahead of its competitor, the United States, in many respects.
For example, the Russian Yasen-M and the US Virginia class submarine, the Russian and American submarines both displace 13,800 tons and can reach a maximum speed of 35 knots. Yasen-M submarines also have modern electronic equipment on board, slightly shorter in length than American submarines. The new KTP-6 reactor helps to reduce the noise level of submarines.
However, the Russian submarine has an unpleasant surprise that really scared the US military, which is the Zircon hypersonic missile. This would overshadow any advantage of the US fleet, since the US Navy has no such weapon.
Russia’s Yasen-M class submarine is part of the 885M Yasen-M project. It is the latest class of nuclear-powered submarine, designed by Malakhit and built by Sevmash for the Russian Navy. Yasen-class submarines are expected to replace Soviet-era nuclear attack submarines, which are still in service with the Russian Navy.
Yasen-M class submarines have a hull length of 130m with dimensions of 130x13m. The Yasen-M has a crew of 90, and has a displacement of nearly 14,000 tons.
The Yasen-M is a typical interceptor, equipped with an OK-650KPM pressurized water reactor 200 MWt turbines of 43,000 shp. Yasen-M can reach a speed of 31 knots (faster than even the fastest destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers).
Yasen-M’s submerged depth has never exceeded 1,804 feet (580m) and has a safe depth of 1,475 feet (450m). Many sources believe that Yasen-M has a maximum depth of 600m.
The Yasen-M is the most advanced submarine in Russia’s submarine fleet and can carry 32 P-800 Onyx cruise missiles or 40 Kalibr missiles, or the new Zircon hypersonic missile with a range of up to 4,500 kilometer.
That outstanding power, along with 10 torpedo launchers, is a growing concern for the US Navy and its NATO allies. The Russian Yasen-M submarine can attack many targets at sea and on the ground, distinguished by its high secrecy and excellent autonomy during long voyages, which is making the US and NATO scared.
