Strategic nuclear submarine cruiser “Dmitry Donskoy” project 941UM “Shark” will be in the combat composition of the Northern Fleet for three more – four years. This is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to a source in the shipbuilding industry..
According to the source, latest “Shark”, in the combat composition of the fleet will serve until the full depletion of nuclear fuel, what will take 3-4 of the year. After that, a decision will be made on the final withdrawal of the submarine from service.. Rebooting of the reactor with the corresponding repair work is not planned.
As previously reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Nikolay Evmenov, after the laying of two new APRKSN projects “Borey-A”, one of which will receive a name “Dmitry Donskoy”, latest “Shark” will remain just a numbered submarine TK-208 and will be used for weapons testing.
In this way, confirmed the words of another source in the defense industry, who earlier this year reported that, that the missile submarine “Dmitry Donskoy” will last about five more years and will be decommissioned. The restoration of the submarine is called too costly and impractical.
Heavy nuclear-powered missile submarine strategic submarine TK-208 “Dmitry Donskoy” is the lead in a series of six submarines of the project 941 “Shark”. Bet on “Sevmash” 17 June 1976 of the year, launched 23 September 1980 of the year, put into operation 29 December 1981 of the year. Today it is the largest submarine in the world and the last “Shark” in the combat composition of the Russian Navy. Three “sharks” not disposed of without “help” USA, two more are in reserve.
