Spy Subs -Project 09852 Belgorod
Updated. Originally posted 25th June 2016
Project 09852 K-329 Belgorod ("Белгород")
On 23rd April 2019, in a ceremony in the arctic town of Severodvinsk, Russia launched its latest and largest ‘special mission’ submarine, Belgorod. Measures were taken to control images published in the media, which only showed the rear-most section of the submarine. The same day a commercial satellite passed west of the city, snapping an image looking in through the rarely open doors of the construction hall. The canvas covers on her twin screws (propellers) are visible inside the hangar, as is the floating dock which is lined up outside in the basin to receive her. This is the first of many commercial satellite images which will reveal many more details about this enigmatic boat.
Update on previous analysis: I have seen substantially more satellite imagery than I can share at this time (thanks partly to Jane’s!) . This analysis is largely based on that, together with a reevaluation of previous analysis.
Overall the previous analysis remains valid however. Belgorod will be one of the largest submarines in the world and will play a key role in building military infrastructure deep under the Arctic as well as carrying the new Poseidon Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Armed Autonomous Torpedo. She was an unfinished OSCAR-II cruise missile submarine KC-139 which is being converted to serve as a Special Missions host submarine. she will be crewed by the Russian Navy but operated under GUGI, the secretive Main Directorate Deep Sea Research organization. In order to conduct covert special missions, it will carry a deep diving midget submarine, large payloads and the new KANYON (Status-6) strategic nuclear torpedo weapon. The project started in 2010, with the refit commencing in 2012, and she was finally launched on 23rd April 2019.
The infamous 'Status-6' media leak from November 2015. Project 09852 Belgorod is shown top left. Note that as well as mentioning the Status-6 torpedo (NATO: KANYON), it depicts a midget submarine under the Belgorod and a payload on the back.
On 1st March 2018 a video was released by the Russian MoD (http://vote.mil.ru/vote/oms.htm) inviting people to name Russia's newest weapon(s). The clip showed the Belgorod launching a KANYON and Harpsichord-2P-PM AUV. The Status-6 weapon was subsequetly renamed Poseidon:
Displacement: greater than 14,700 tonnes surfaced (est. 17,000 tonnes), 24,000 tonnes submerged (estimated 30,0000 tonnes)
Length: ~178 meters
Beam: ~15 meters
Speed: < 32 knots
Range: Unlimted
Endurance: Approximately 4 months
Operating depth: Estimated as 500-520 meters per OSCAR-II SSGN
Propulsion: nuclear (2 x pressurized water reactor OK-650M.02 with a capacity of 190 MW driving two steam turbines and twin screws. Plus at least two outboard thrusters.
Crew: TBC. estimated 110
Armament: 6 x Poseidon (KANYON) nuclear torpedoes , 6 x 533 mm (21") torpedo tubes (tbc)
1.
Poseidon is the largest torpedo ever developed in any country. At around 2 meters (6.5 ft) in diameter and over 20 meters (65 ft) long, it is approximately twice the size of submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and thirty times the size of a regular ‘heavyweight’ torpedo.
Original artwork - CLICK IMAGE FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION:
Although the Belgorod conversion has been followed by some analysts since around 2010, it only made headlines (indirectly) in November 2015 when it appeared on the infamous ‘leaked’ STATUS-6 presentation. The submarine was depicted in the top left, stating that it would carry six of the new nuclear powered nuclear armed strategic torpedoes previously known as Skif (NATO: KANYON). These torpedoes are massive at 24m (80ft) long and 1.6m (5.25ft) in diameter, and are designed to strike coastal cities. They can be thought of as an SLBM but in a torpedo form.
When first revealed in the leak, many observers were quick to dismiss the KANYON as impractical. The stated specifications, especially the warhead, seemed ‘optimistic’. And although it is nearly impossible to counter with current weapon systems, it made no sense as a First Strike weapon because it is comparatively noisy and slow; even at an incredible 60kt speed it would take days to reach a target. It is also unsuitable for striking moving targets such as carrier battle groups although it is presented as a multi-role weapon by the Russians. The remaining option, which does make some sense, is as a Second Strike weapon intended to be fired in retaliation. Any difficulties countering it can only be made more difficult still in the event of a nuclear war, and the system can likely function without satellite input, making it less vulnerable than SLBMs/ICBMs (can be debated).
Its deployment on Belgorod is not straightforward. Structurally the submarine is ideal with massive missile bas either side of the hull which will now be empty. These are more than large enough for the KANYON tubes which will probably be angled to fire out through the side, thus minimizing changes to the forward hull and avoiding compromising the sonar spaces. And the gigantic submarine probably has enough reserve buoyancy to carry the system plus the midget sub and ATGU payload.
However, carrying a special mission submarine and payload, and carrying a strategic weapon are contradictory missions. Some would say mutually exclusive. That the boat is slated for both missions seems clear, so the question is how? It is possible that she will deploy in one role or the other depending on the patrol pattern, covering for the only other KANYON submarine, the purpose built P.09851 KHABAROVSK.
Project 09852 K-329 Belgorod ("Белгород")
On 23rd April 2019, in a ceremony in the arctic town of Severodvinsk, Russia launched its latest and largest ‘special mission’ submarine, Belgorod. Measures were taken to control images published in the media, which only showed the rear-most section of the submarine. The same day a commercial satellite passed west of the city, snapping an image looking in through the rarely open doors of the construction hall. The canvas covers on her twin screws (propellers) are visible inside the hangar, as is the floating dock which is lined up outside in the basin to receive her. This is the first of many commercial satellite images which will reveal many more details about this enigmatic boat.Update on previous analysis: I have seen substantially more satellite imagery than I can share at this time (thanks partly to Jane’s!) . This analysis is largely based on that, together with a reevaluation of previous analysis.
Original artwork - CLICK for HIGH-RESOLUTION image:
- Belgorod is marginally shorter than predicted, at ~178 meters (versus 184 meters previous estimate). The hull insert required to accommodate the Losharik deep-diving midget submarine is shorter than estimated, at around 18-20 meters, but the bow section is also longer. As expected, the sail is shorter.
- Belgorod is narrower than the original OSCAR-II design. This is because the Poseidon Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Armed Autonomous Torpedo are carried in the bow similar to the future Pr.09851 Khabarovsk Class instead of beside the hull in the manner of the OSCAR-II’s missiles. Belgorod has a roughly circular cross-section of ~15 meters diameter.
- the exact configuration of the six Poseidon tubes is unclear. Possibly they are in a rotary launcher to minimize the number and size of the launch doors and easy loading of the weapons. However they may also be in rows, in which case they are possibly loaded from above. When better images emerge of the bow section we may be able to infer the layout from hints in the arrangement of hatches and doors.
- It is unclear where the torpedo room is located. It seems unlikely that it has been done away with however.
Overall the previous analysis remains valid however. Belgorod will be one of the largest submarines in the world and will play a key role in building military infrastructure deep under the Arctic as well as carrying the new Poseidon Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Armed Autonomous Torpedo. She was an unfinished OSCAR-II cruise missile submarine KC-139 which is being converted to serve as a Special Missions host submarine. she will be crewed by the Russian Navy but operated under GUGI, the secretive Main Directorate Deep Sea Research organization. In order to conduct covert special missions, it will carry a deep diving midget submarine, large payloads and the new KANYON (Status-6) strategic nuclear torpedo weapon. The project started in 2010, with the refit commencing in 2012, and she was finally launched on 23rd April 2019.
The infamous 'Status-6' media leak from November 2015. Project 09852 Belgorod is shown top left. Note that as well as mentioning the Status-6 torpedo (NATO: KANYON), it depicts a midget submarine under the Belgorod and a payload on the back.
On 1st March 2018 a video was released by the Russian MoD (http://vote.mil.ru/vote/oms.htm) inviting people to name Russia's newest weapon(s). The clip showed the Belgorod launching a KANYON and Harpsichord-2P-PM AUV. The Status-6 weapon was subsequetly renamed Poseidon:
Pr09852 Belgorod Specifications (Provisional)Get The essential guide to World Submarines
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Displacement: greater than 14,700 tonnes surfaced (est. 17,000 tonnes), 24,000 tonnes submerged (estimated 30,0000 tonnes)
Length: ~178 meters
Beam: ~15 meters
Speed: < 32 knots
Range: Unlimted
Endurance: Approximately 4 months
Operating depth: Estimated as 500-520 meters per OSCAR-II SSGN
Propulsion: nuclear (2 x pressurized water reactor OK-650M.02 with a capacity of 190 MW driving two steam turbines and twin screws. Plus at least two outboard thrusters.
Crew: TBC. estimated 110
Armament: 6 x Poseidon (KANYON) nuclear torpedoes , 6 x 533 mm (21") torpedo tubes (tbc)
1. 
2. 
3. 
- Submarine size comparrison (Original artwork). 2. Original artwork was originally commissioned by Janes Intelligence Review from IHS Markit. 3. Translated Shipbuilder's statement covering work on Belgorod
Poseidon is the largest torpedo ever developed in any country. At around 2 meters (6.5 ft) in diameter and over 20 meters (65 ft) long, it is approximately twice the size of submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and thirty times the size of a regular ‘heavyweight’ torpedo.
Original artwork - CLICK IMAGE FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION:
Although the Belgorod conversion has been followed by some analysts since around 2010, it only made headlines (indirectly) in November 2015 when it appeared on the infamous ‘leaked’ STATUS-6 presentation. The submarine was depicted in the top left, stating that it would carry six of the new nuclear powered nuclear armed strategic torpedoes previously known as Skif (NATO: KANYON). These torpedoes are massive at 24m (80ft) long and 1.6m (5.25ft) in diameter, and are designed to strike coastal cities. They can be thought of as an SLBM but in a torpedo form.
When first revealed in the leak, many observers were quick to dismiss the KANYON as impractical. The stated specifications, especially the warhead, seemed ‘optimistic’. And although it is nearly impossible to counter with current weapon systems, it made no sense as a First Strike weapon because it is comparatively noisy and slow; even at an incredible 60kt speed it would take days to reach a target. It is also unsuitable for striking moving targets such as carrier battle groups although it is presented as a multi-role weapon by the Russians. The remaining option, which does make some sense, is as a Second Strike weapon intended to be fired in retaliation. Any difficulties countering it can only be made more difficult still in the event of a nuclear war, and the system can likely function without satellite input, making it less vulnerable than SLBMs/ICBMs (can be debated).
However, carrying a special mission submarine and payload, and carrying a strategic weapon are contradictory missions. Some would say mutually exclusive. That the boat is slated for both missions seems clear, so the question is how? It is possible that she will deploy in one role or the other depending on the patrol pattern, covering for the only other KANYON submarine, the purpose built P.09851 KHABAROVSK.
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