{"id":17149,"date":"2018-06-01T19:47:18","date_gmt":"2018-06-01T19:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/01\/russia-has-plans-for-its-future-nuclear-subs-and-it-involves-hypersonic-missiles\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:36:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:36:39","slug":"russia-has-plans-for-its-future-nuclear-subs-and-it-involves-hypersonic-missiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2018\/06\/01\/russia-has-plans-for-its-future-nuclear-subs-and-it-involves-hypersonic-missiles\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia has plans for its future nuclear subs, and it involves hypersonic missiles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MOSCOW \u2015 Russia\u2019s next generation of multipurpose nuclear submarines, reportedly known as the Husky class, will be armed with hypersonic missiles, with the lead boat slated for launch in 2027, according to an unidentified Russian defense industry official quoted by the TASS news agency on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cZircon hypersonic anti-ship missiles will become the main armament of the newest multipurpose submarine,\u201d the source said, referring to a Russian sea-based<\/a> hypersonic missile project intended to replace the P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles that are common among Russia\u2019s heavier-hitting warships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little is known about the Husky-class submarines. They\u2019re called fifth-generation multipurpose submarines in the Russian press and are being designed by the Malakhit design bureau in St. Petersburg, but there is not yet a finalized version of the boat\u2019s design. According to TASS<\/a>, the Husky class will feature a typical \u2015 or rather typical for Russian subs \u2015 dual-hull design, with a 12,000-ton displacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This places the Husky in a similar weight class to the old Soviet-built Akula submarines that the Husky is intended to replace, and the newer Yasen-class multipurpose nuclear boats currently under construction in Russian yards. Yasen began as a late Soviet design that was delayed by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent decade of economic turbulence in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The addition of tubes for hypersonic missiles aboard the Husky-class submarines would, if true, come as no surprise. In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin demonstrated an affinity for hypersonic weapons<\/a> as a means to counter current and future American missile defenses. It seems Russia, with its skill in missile design, is pursuing hypersonic technology<\/a> as an offset.<\/p>\n\n\n\t