World's largest nuclear submarine remains in service with the Russian Navy

The world's largest nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy remains in the combat strength of the Russian Navy. The fate of the submarine will be decided in late 2022, TASS reports, citing sources in the shipbuilding industry and law enforcement agencies in the north of the country.

Currently, the heavy nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine is performing combat training missions at sea.

"The sub will remain in combat formation until at least the end of the year,” the source said.

A source in the shipbuilding industry said that specialists have yet to assess the technical condition of the sub and the stock of its nuclear fuel. The nuclear-powered submarine may thus serve in the Russian navy for a few more years.

It was earlier reported that the Dmitry Donskoy submarine was withdrawn from the Russian Navy to be subsequently decommissioned.

The submarine with a displacement of 48,000 tons is a vessel of Project 941 UM Akula (NATO reporting name SSBN Typhoon). She entered the combat structure of the Navy of the Soviet Union in 1980. In total, six submarines of Project 941 were built.

In 2002, the submarine was modernized and re-equipped for Bulava missiles. Last year, Sevmash laid down a new project 955A Borei-A class strategic nuclear submarine, which will also be named Dmitry Donskoy.