TASS Russian news agency
On December 25, 2020, in Severodvinsk, the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center has completed the slipway stage of repair and modernization of the Leopard SSN. The submarine was taken out of the yard’s main slipway to complete the work at the enterprise’s pier.
“The ‘Leopard’ has become the first 3rd-generation submarine being repaired and upgraded at the Zvyozdochka center under a program to maintain the multipurpose nuclear-powered underwater component of the Navy […] The Zvyozdochka center and its subcontractors have replaced the electronic warfare, control systems, communications hubs, navigation suites, sonar systems, and a combat management system. The modernization will enhance the submarine’s armament suite, reduce the acoustic submarine of the ship, and enhance the crew’s comfortability,”
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov.
In 2013, then-acting Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Admiral Viktor Chirkov said 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines (including six Project 971 to the Project 971M standard) would be upgraded. The modernized submarines will be capable of firing the Kalibr (NATO reporting name: SS-N-27) cruise missiles.
