Naval Systems

Kashalot-class submarine

Also known as
  • Project 1910
  • Project 1910 Kashalot
  • Project 1910 Uniform
  • Uniform class
  • NATO: Uniform
  • Kashalot
  • AS-13
  • AS-15
  • AS-33
  • AGS AS-15
  • PLASN Project 1910
  • Kashalot class nuclear submarine
  • Kashalot-class nuclear submarine

The Kashalot-class submarine is the NATO reporting name for Soviet Project 1910 deep-diving nuclear special-mission submarines. Open sources describe the titanium-hulled boats as GUGI-linked seabed platforms with no standard armament, built for covert ocean-engineering and intelligence tasks that depend on extreme-depth operation rather than attack-submarine weapons.

Kashalot-class submarine, Deep-diving special-purpose submarine, Naval Systems
Image source: Uniform pr1910 color.svg

Role in Conflicts

2015 Various Conflicts
Role in conflict
Special-purpose seabed operations

Open reporting places Project 1910 Kashalot / Uniform boats in Russia's GUGI deep-diving submarine force for covert seabed work. Janes and TASS reported in 2021 that AS-15 was being repaired and modernized for possible carriage by Belgorod, while RUSI describes Kashalot as part of the Russian seabed-warfare ecosystem. The available sources support modern undersea-warfare relevance but do not tie the class to a named shooting war, so the entry remains in 2015 Various Conflicts.

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Displacement
About 1,340-1,390 tonnes surfaced; 1,580-2,000 tonnes submerged
Length
69 m
Beam
7 m
Draft
5.2 m
Crew
36
Operating depth
More than 3,000 ft / about 1,000 m
Hull
Titanium pressure-hull construction reported in open sources
Propulsion
One nuclear reactor with steam turbines and auxiliary propulsors
Mission equipment
Manipulator arms, positioning thrusters, and seabed-work fittings reported in open-source analysis
Armament
None
GUGI Deep-Diving Context

Project 1910 is best read as part of Russia's special-purpose deep-diving submarine ecosystem rather than as a torpedo-armed combat submarine. RUSI describes GUGI as operating titanium-hulled boats including Paltus, X-Ray, Kashalot, and Losharik for extreme-depth work, while Janes and TASS connect AS-15 repair work to a possible Belgorod carrier role.

BoatReported sequenceOpen-source notes
AS-13First completed Project 1910 boatCovert Shores lists an October 1977 keel laying, November 1982 launch, and 31 December 1986 acceptance into service.
AS-15Second completed boatTASS lists a February 1983 keel laying and 30 December 1991 transfer to the military; Janes and TASS later tied repair work to a possible Belgorod carrier role.
AS-33Third completed boatCovert Shores reports a November 1993 launch and December 1994 service date while noting uncertainty around current status.
SystemCatalog linkDocumented relationship
Project 10831 LosharikLosharik submarine, Nuclear-powered deep-water special-purpose submarine, Naval SystemsLosharik submarineJanes reported AS-15 as a possible stand-in for the Losharik role after the 2019 Losharik fire.
Project 18511 PaltusPaltus-class submarine, Nuclear-powered special-purpose mini-submarine, Naval SystemsPaltus-class submarineRUSI groups Paltus and Kashalot within the GUGI-operated titanium-hulled special-purpose submarine set.
Project 09852 BelgorodK-329 Belgorod submarine, Special-purpose nuclear-powered submarine, Naval SystemsK-329 Belgorod submarineTASS and Janes reported Belgorod as the possible carrier platform for the repaired AS-15 deep-diving station.
Timeline

Kashalot-class submarine Key Events

  1. Project 1910 design work begins

    Covert Shores attributes the start of the Kashalot / Uniform deep-submergence program to 1972 under the Malachite design bureau.

    Sources: Project 1910 UNIFORM Class

  2. AS-13 is laid down

    Construction on the first Project 1910 boat began in Leningrad under the project commonly referred to as Kashalot.

    Sources: Project 1910 Kashalot / Uniform

  3. AS-13 enters service

    The first completed Project 1910 submarine was accepted into the Soviet Northern Fleet.

    Sources: Project 1910 Kashalot / Uniform

  4. AS-15 enters service

    The second Project 1910 submarine was commissioned after a long build and trial period.

    Sources: Project 1910 Kashalot / Uniform

  5. AS-15 is tied to the Kursk search and rescue response

    TASS later reported that AS-15 was among four AS-indexed deep-diving craft involved in the search-and-rescue operation after the Kursk submarine sank.

    Sources: TASS Belgorod AS-15 carrier report

  6. AS-15 is reported for Belgorod operations

    Janes reported that Russia was preparing AS-15 to return to service for operations from the Belgorod mothership.

    Sources: Russia readies Kashalot submarine for Belgorod role

Media

Kashalot-class submarine Images

Kashalot-class submarine, Deep-diving special-purpose submarine, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: Uniform pr1910 sb.svg
Related Weapon Systems
Losharik submarine, Nuclear-powered deep-water special-purpose submarine, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsLosharik submarineNuclear-powered deep-water special-purpose submarineLosharik is Russia's one-off Project 10831 / AS-31 nuclear-powered deep-water station built for GUGI special seabed missions rather than conventional attack-submarine combat. Open sources describe a Sevmash-built, Malakhit-designed boat with titanium spherical pressure compartments, host-submarine support, sonar and manipulator-style mission equipment, and a long repair cycle after the fatal July 2019 battery-compartment fire.
Paltus-class submarine, Nuclear-powered special-purpose mini-submarine, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsPaltus-class submarineNuclear-powered special-purpose mini-submarineThe Paltus-class submarine is the NATO reporting name for Russia's Project 18511 Halibut nuclear-powered special-purpose deep-water station family. Open sources describe two boats, AS-21 and AS-35, as improved follow-ons to the Project 1851 X-Ray/Nelma design, built at the Leningrad/Admiralty yard for carrier-borne deep-sea missions, diver-support work, and GUGI-linked seabed operations; published dimensions vary widely because the class remains highly opaque.
K-329 Belgorod submarine, Special-purpose nuclear-powered submarine, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsK-329 Belgorod submarineSpecial-purpose nuclear-powered submarineK-329 Belgorod is a Russian Project 09852 special-purpose nuclear-powered submarine rebuilt from an unfinished Project 949A Oscar II / Antey hull. Public sources connect it to Poseidon underwater strike-vehicle carriage, GUGI-style deep-sea payload work, research and rescue missions, and possible carriage of smaller deep-diving submarines, but this record remains relationship-only because no cited source documents combat use by Belgorod in a named conflict.
Delta III-class submarine, Ballistic missile submarine, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsDelta III-class submarineBallistic missile submarineThe Delta III-class submarine is the NATO reporting name for the Soviet Project 667BDR Kalmar, a Sevmash-built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine designed around the D-9R launch system and 16 R-29R / SS-N-18 submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The class introduced a MIRV-capable Soviet SSBN design, remained visible in Russian Pacific Fleet strategic exercises into the 2010s, and ended regular SSBN service when K-44 Ryazan was withdrawn after the other Project 667BDR boats had already left service.

Sources

Deep-diving nuclear-powered station Project 1910 KashalotPublisher: RussianShips.info | Note: Supports the Project 1910 class designation, completed-unit count, and builder context for the Kashalot class. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Project 1910 Kashalot / UniformPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the class designation, builder entry, and the published dimensions, propulsion, crew, speed, and armament summary. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Project 1910 UNIFORM ClassPublisher: Covert Shores | Note: Supports design-start context, Malachite bureau attribution, titanium construction, boat-level dates for AS-13, AS-15, and AS-33, operating-depth context, and reported seabed-work fittings. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Russia readies Kashalot submarine for Belgorod rolePublisher: Janes | Note: Supports 2015 Various Conflicts context by reporting AS-15 was being returned to service for operations from Belgorod, with Belgorod described as the carrier for the vessel and Losharik identified as the role AS-15 could fill. | Accessed: 2026-06-29TASS Belgorod AS-15 carrier reportPublisher: TASS | Note: Supports 2015 Various Conflicts context by reporting repair and modernization of AS-15, its possible carriage by Belgorod, AS-15 construction and transfer dates, and its reported involvement in the Kursk search-and-rescue response. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Belgorod sails for the first timePublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports Belgorod carrier context and the caveat that reported AS-15 adaptation for Belgorod would require extensive modification and remained unconfirmed in open sources. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Stalking the Seabed: How Russia Targets Critical Undersea InfrastructurePublisher: Royal United Services Institute | Note: Supports 2015 Various Conflicts context by describing Kashalot as one of the special-purpose submarines operated by GUGI in Russia's seabed-warfare and maritime-sabotage capability set. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Uniform pr1910 color.svgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the color class schematic. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Uniform pr1910 sb.svgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the silhouette class schematic. | Accessed: 2026-06-29