The Borei-class submarine is Russia's Rubin-designed, Sevmash-built Project 955/955A strategic ballistic-missile submarine family. Rubin describes Project 955 as a fourth-generation nuclear submarine with the Bulava missile complex, while Project 955A is the improved Borei-A successor with upgraded surveillance, communications, control, maneuvering, safety, and habitability features.
Public sources document Borei-class boats in Russian Navy strategic-deterrent service, service-entry ceremonies, and Bulava test launches, but this class page still lacks direct evidence for use in a named post-2015 combat theater.
Public sources separate the family into the original Project 955 Borei boats, the improved Project 955A Borei-A series, and a reported Project 955K cruise-missile derivative that remains unconfirmed in official service.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Project 955 Borei | Original SSBN design | Rubin identifies Project 955 as a fourth-generation strategic missile submarine with increased acoustic stealth, improved radio-electronic equipment, domestic equipment, and the Bulava missile complex. Sources: Rubin Project 955 |
| Project 955A Borei-A | Improved SSBN design | Rubin describes Project 955A as the advanced successor to Project 955, adding improved surveillance, communications, navigation, control, maneuvering, nuclear and fire safety, power-plant operating characteristics, and habitability. Sources: Rubin Project 955A |
| Project 955K Borei-K | Reported cruise-missile derivative | TASS reported an industry-source plan for a Borei-K cruise-missile submarine derivative, but said there was no official confirmation at the time of the report. |
Borei-class submarines are documented launch platforms for the RSM-56 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile.
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Submarine-launched ballistic missile | NTI says each Borei-class vessel can carry 16 Bulava SLBMs, while CSIS describes Bulava as designed for Borey/Project 955 ballistic-missile submarines and documents submerged Borei-class Bulava test launches. Sources: Russia Submarine Capabilities, RSM-56 Bulava (SS-N-32), Russia Successfully Tests Bulava SLBM Salvo |
NTI places the Borei-class program start in 1996, beginning Russia's post-Soviet replacement line for older ballistic-missile submarines.
Sources: Russia Submarine Capabilities
Sevmash says the lead Borei-A boat was laid down at the shipyard on 30 July 2012.
Sources: Knyaz Vladimir enters service
Rubin's history records the signed acceptance certificate for Yuriy Dolgorukiy, the first Project 955 missile submarine designed by Rubin.
Sources: Rubin 2011 to Present History
Sevmash reports that the submarine completed its first test launch of the Bulava sea-based ballistic missile in the White Sea.
Sources: Knyaz Vladimir enters service
Sevmash marked the raising of the Andreevsky flag on Project 955A Knyaz Vladimir, describing it as the lead ship of the improved Borei line.
Sources: Knyaz Vladimir enters service
The Kremlin reported the Russian Navy flag-raising ceremony for Knyaz Pozharsky, a Borei-A submarine, at Sevmash in Severodvinsk.
Sources: Knyaz Pozharsky Ceremony
