Practically in parallel with the recent activities of Russian submarines in the Pacific, during which cruise missile launches were observed, the Russian Navy announced that one of its Yasen-M class nuclear submarines carried out the launch of a 3M55 Oniks anti-ship missile in the Barents Sea, targeting a simulated naval objective located about 200 kilometers away. Specifically, the submarine involved in this activity was reported to be the K-562 Arkhangelsk, with the Barents Sea chosen as the launch area.
Expanding on details, the Russian Ministry of Defense explained that the launch was part of a scheduled combat training exercise, in line with the institution’s training plans and also as a new message of deterrence toward potential threats. It was further reported that the launch was carried out from a submerged position, and according to data obtained by sensors deployed near the target, the missile struck its mark with precision.
On this matter, the Commander of the Northern Fleet, Admiral Konstantin Kabantsov, stated that the activity allowed the crew of the Arkhangelsk to demonstrate their professionalism and naval competence. He also added that the area where the missile launch took place had already been closed beforehand to prevent the entry of civilian aircraft or ships for safety reasons, in an operation overseen by elements of the Kola Flotilla of mixed forces.
Furthermore, this event has served as an important opportunity to test the strike capabilities of one of the most modern submarines in the Russian Navy, which was launched in late November 2023 and commissioned in December 2024. The vessel, originally designed by Malakhit Marine Engineering, carries as its main armaments the aforementioned Oniks and Kalibr-PL missiles. The latter had also been launched by the submarine in previous tests, most notably those carried out in May of this year, marking the first time such a launch occurred.
Finally, it should be recalled that this is a class the Russian Navy intends to expand in number in the future. As reported last July, it was President Vladimir Putin himself who announced the decision to move forward with the construction of two additional Yasen-M submarines, highlighting that these are “the core of the strike capability of the Navy’s conventional forces.” It should also be noted that at that time it was confirmed that the Sevmash shipyard was in the process of building four vessels of this class, enabling the institution to prepare for the retirement of its legacy Oscar and Akula submarines from the Soviet era.
Image credits: Russian Ministry of Defense
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