Project 667BDR

Description: The Project 667B (Delta Class NATO designation) is the second generation of Project 667A (Yankee Class NATO designation) strategic submarines of which 34 units were produced with the first boat entering service in 1967. Their nuclear propulsion provides outstanding performance over conventionally-powered submarines as well as longer endurance while submerged. The first Project 667B boat was commissioned in 1973 and since then 43 boats were commissioned for the Russian/Soviet Navy.

The development of Project 667BDR, Kalmar Russian designation and Delta III NATO designation, began in 1972 with the first boat entering service in 1976. It was equipped with 16 RSM-50 (R-29R) ballistic missiles carrying three nuclear warheads each. The R-29R was the first MIRVed SLBM introduced by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Navy commissioned 14 boats, the last one in 1982.

Currently, the Russian Navy operates six Delta III ballistic submarines. It is expected that sooner two or more of these ships are decommissioned due to aging. By 2010, the remaining ships could be replaced by the Borey-class submarines with the first boat joining the Russian fleet in 2006.