The Russian Federation conducted a new test of its strategic nuclear forces, reaffirming its deterrence capability. As part of the exercises overseen by President Vladimir Putin, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) “Yars” was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome toward the Kura test range in Kamchatka. Simultaneously, from the waters of the Barents Sea, the Russian Navy’s nuclear ballistic missile submarine K-117 Bryansk, belonging to Project 667BDRM (Delta IV class according to NATO), successfully launched an R-29RMU Sineva ballistic missile.
During the exercise, Tu-95MS strategic bombers also participated, carrying out cruise missile launches. The coordination of the operations was conducted from the National Defense Command Center of the Russian Federation, where the execution of the maneuvers and the effectiveness of command and control systems were monitored.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the purpose of the operation was to verify the level of readiness of military command structures and the operational response capabilities of nuclear forces in the event of a strategic attack. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, directly briefed President Putin on the progress of the tests.
Modernization of the Russian Submarine Fleet
The Sineva missile launch from the Bryansk is part of the Russian Navy’s efforts to maintain and modernize its fleet of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The Delta IV-class submarines, designed and built in the final years of the Soviet Union between 1984 and 1990, remain a key component of the Northern Fleet’s nuclear deterrence force.
In July 2024, during the celebrations for Russian Navy Day, it was confirmed that the K-18 Karelia, also a Delta IV-class submarine, is undergoing maintenance in dry dock at the Zvezdochka ship repair center, with the goal of soon rejoining the fleet. Naval authorities expect sea trials to begin in 2025, extending the vessel’s operational life by at least another decade.
While the Delta IVs remain active, Russia continues the gradual replacement of its Akula-class strategic submarines (the last of which was decommissioned in February 2023) with new-generation vessels. In December 2024, the Navy received the K-564 Arkhangelsk, a Yasen-M-class (Project 885M) nuclear attack submarine built by the Sevmash shipyard. This unit is the fourth of its kind and the second assigned to the Northern Fleet. With the Arkhangelsk, the Navy now operates four Yasen-M submarines distributed between the Northern and Pacific Fleets.
In parallel, Admiralty Shipyards continues to advance the modernization of Russia’s conventionally powered submarine fleet. In December 2022, the Velikiye Luki diesel-electric submarine was launched, belonging to the modified Lada class (Project 677). This class represents the fourth generation of Russia’s conventional submarines, designed for coastal operations, sea lane protection, and reconnaissance missions.
Likewise, in July 2022, the Navy received the K-329 Belgorod, a large nuclear-powered submarine associated with special projects. Built by Sevmash, its exact purpose has not been officially disclosed, though analysts link it to undersea intelligence operations and testing of the Poseidon autonomous system.
Expansion into the Pacific through cooperation with China
The development and operation of Russia’s submarine fleet takes place within the framework of growing military and technological cooperation with China. In August 2025, diesel-electric submarines from both navies conducted their first joint patrol in the Pacific Ocean following the Joint Sea 2025 naval exercise in the Sea of Japan. This joint operation marked a milestone, as it was the first time both countries employed submarines in patrol missions.
The participating fleet included the Russian submarine RFS Volkhov (B-603), a Kilo II-class vessel, and a submarine from the People’s Liberation Army Navy, whose identity was not disclosed. The patrol covered a route through the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, supported by the corvette Gromky and the rescue tug Foty Krylov, which provided logistical and submarine search-and-rescue assistance.
These maneuvers consolidated a new level of interoperability between the naval forces of Moscow and Beijing, which have conducted joint exercises since 2021. According to military observers, the inclusion of submarine units in combined patrols reflects both powers’ intention to coordinate operations in strategic and contested maritime areas.
On the other hand, the bilateral relationship extends beyond the military realm. In October 2025, Rosatom’s Director General Alexey Likhachev stated that Russia is “already helping” China surpass the United States in installed nuclear power capacity. According to him, the Russian state company has built four nuclear reactors in China and is working on four more, all based on Russian closed fuel cycle technology.
Beijing’s goal is to reach and surpass 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity, compared to the roughly 97 GW of the United States. China currently operates around 53.2 GW but plans to double that capacity within a decade, relying heavily on Russian technological cooperation.
A strategic signal
The launch of the Sineva missile from the Bryansk confirms that the Russian Navy maintains a fully operational nuclear triad, capable of responding from land, air, and sea. At the same time, it demonstrates progress in Russia’s naval modernization program and the consolidation of strategic alliances with China, both militarily and in the energy sector.
For Moscow, these actions represent a demonstration of readiness and coordination that reaffirms its position in the international system as a nuclear power capable of sustaining deterrence and projecting global influence.
*Original text written in Spanish by Germán Alejandro Romero
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