Russia Transitioning Entire Nuclear Attack Submarine Fleet to Enhanced Yasen Class Ships

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Alexander Moiseyev has confirmed that the service will transition to fielding a nuclear powered attack submarine fleet comprised exclusively of Yasen and Yasen-M class submarines, otherwise known as the Project 885/885M, within the next 10 years. "Regarding multipurpose submarines, the primary project going forward – the Yasen/YasenM, designed by the Malakhit Design Bureau of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) – will replace all third-generation submarines currently in the Navy’s inventory within the next decade: Projects 971, 945, and 949," he observed during an interview with local media. 

The Russian Navy currently fields five Yasen-M class and one Yasen class ships, with the seventh ship the Ulyanovsk scheduled to enter service in 2026, while five further ships are planned bringing the fleet size up to twelve. The Navy’s commander-in-chief observed that Yasen class submarines have outstanding search, strike, and defensive capabilities, and are outstandingly well armed. "As for ammunition, they are equipped with all the Navy’s modern missile weapons – Kalibr, Oniks, Zircon, and naval underwater weapons. The subs can operate covertly and for extended periods in virtually any area of the ocean and, of course, pose a great threat to naval groups and land targets of any adversary," he stated. 

Commander-in-Chief Moiseyev emphasised that the Yasen class ships are currently successfully carrying out their assigned missions as part of the submarine forces of the Northern and Pacific Fleets. Feedback on the ships’ capabilities from the 2010s fuelled a growing interest in increasing the scale of procurements, with Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on July 24, 2025, to have given instructions to continue the serial production, emphasising their role as the backbone of the Navy’s general-purpose forces. The Yasen class’ carriage of high-precision weapons and advanced navigation, communication and hydroacoustics capabilities were all highlighted at the time. In contrast to the decline in the standing of the Russian Navy’s surface fleet, the Yasen class’ capabilities have been pointed to with considerable concern by Western analysts, with the head of the British Royal Navy First Sea Lord General Gwyn Jenkins having in December 2025 warned that Western Bloc could soon lose their advantage in the Atlantic Ocean as a result of the significant strengthening of Russian naval capabilities. The capabilities of the Yasen class submarine fleet was considered a primary factor stimulating such concerns.