K-535 Yuriy Dolgorukiy, the first SSBN submarine of the Borei class of the Project 955, will probably enter service with the Northern Fleet, not the Pacific Fleet, as earlier reports said, Barents Observer reported.
“Yury Dolgoruky”, which is currently undergoing final trials in the White Sea, will be put in service in the Northern Fleet in 2012," ITAR-TASS quoted Rear Admiral Igor Mukhametshin as saying.
Originally the sub was planned to be delivered to the Pacific Fleet. After the second successful launch of the “Bulava” missile in September 2011, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that the vessel was going to be delivered to the Pacific Fleet already by the end of the year. The date has later been changed to June 2012.
The reason for putting the submarine into service in the north instead of in the east might be a result of the fire in the Northern Fleet's nuclear submarine “Yekaterinburg” in December, which seriously damaged the vessel. The submarine repair may cost some EUR 24.5m and take at least 3 years, BarentsObserver said.