Tula submarine is back from overhaul

The K-114 Tula submarine of the Delta IV/Project 667BDRM class returned to the Northern Fleet after an overhaul at the Zvezdochka plant and sea trials.

The plant’s and the Northern Fleet representatives signed the act of the submarine’s acceptance. Tula can operate 10 years more thanks to the overhaul.

The same type submarine – Bryansk is likely to leave the plant this year if the financing is stable. The Defence Ministry financing for Bryansk finished in spring 2005. And some reports suggested the plant’s administration would not release Bryansk until the Defence Ministry pays all the debts. The deputy head of the armaments agency of the Defence Ministry lieutenant general Vladimir Mikheyev said there is no debt, simply the initial price for the repairs was much less, than the price announced recently by the plant’s administration. Earlier, the navy officials promised both submarines would join the Northern fleet in 2005, Interfax reported.

However, it is probably too early to say Tula is back in service — it may have to wait till it gets its complement of missiles. Flight tests of the R-29RM Sineva missile, which will be deployed on Tula, have been completed relatively recently, in June 2004, and Tula is the third in line to get them — after K-51 Verkhoturie and K-84 Ekaterinburg, russianforces. org reported.

K-114 was built at the Sevmash plant in 1987. Tula is one of the last Soviet-built subs and it got its name in 1995 together with the sponsorship from the city of Tula. Submarines of the Project 667BDRM (Delta IV) class entered service in 1985-1991. The total of 7 ships of this class was built. Submarines of this class carry the D-16RM missile system with 16 R-29RM (SS-N-23) missiles.

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