Naval Systems

Losharik submarine

Losharik is Russia's Project 10831 AS-31 deep-diving nuclear-powered special-purpose submarine for GUGI undersea missions. Open reporting describes a titanium-hulled boat built around seven joined spherical pressure compartments, supported by a mothership, and still being repaired or tested after the 2019 fire.

Profile

Origin
Russia
Built by
Malakhit Design Bureau
Type
Deep-diving special-purpose submarine
Service note
1990s-present
Designer
Malakhit Design Bureau
Designed
1988-1990
Produced
1990s-2003
Number built
1
Variants
AS-31, AS-12, Project 10831, Project 210, NATO reporting name: Norsub-5

Also Known As

  • AS-31
  • AS-12
  • Project 10831
  • Project 210
  • Norsub-5
  • Losharik
  • Losharik submarine

Specifications

Length
~70 m
Beam
~7 m
Crew
About 25
Propulsion
1 nuclear reactor driving a single screw
Operating depth
About 1,000 m in one open-source estimate; reporting after repairs said its 6,000 m capability was preserved
Hull
Seven joined titanium spherical compartments

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service
Open sources place Losharik in service by the late 1990s or early 2000s, but the exact commissioning year is not consistently reported because the platform is highly secret. It remained under repair after the 2019 fire and was reported due for sea trials in 2024.
Used by
Russian Navy, Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (GUGI)

Conflict Usage

Side
🏳️Unspecified

Reuters reported in March 2024 that Losharik was due for sea trials after years of repair work, and The Barents Observer reported the boat returning to service after its 2019 fire. Open reporting confirms continued Russian fielding of the submarine, but not a specific cataloged conflict assignment.

Timeline

Losharik submarine Key Events

  1. Construction starts

    Covert Shores lists Losharik as laid down on 16 July 1990 as a secret special-missions boat.

    Sources: Spy Submarine: Russia’s AS-31 Losharik

  2. Launch date reported in open sources

    Covert Shores gives 26 August 1995 as the reported launch date for Project 10831 Losharik.

    Sources: Spy Submarine: Russia’s AS-31 Losharik

  3. Fire during underwater research

    The Barents Observer reported that a fire broke out during underwater research activity, killing 14 sailors and sending the submarine into a long repair cycle.

    Sources: TASS: super-secret nuclear submarine Losharik soon back in service

  4. Sea trials reported after repairs

    Reuters, republished by The Star, reported that Losharik would go out for testing in June or July after completing years of repairs.

    Sources: Russian nuclear-powered Losharik submarine to be tested in June or July after repairs, TASS reports

Losharik submarine Images

Related Weapon Systems

Sources