Russian nuclear sub "Kazán" spotted approaching US, poised to dock in Havana

As reported by the Associated Press, four Russian ships are heading toward Cuba. Among them is the nuclear-powered submarine "Kazán," one of the newest machines in Russia's arsenal. According to Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ships will be in Havana from June 12 to 17, and none carry nuclear weapons. Cuban authorities also assure that their presence does not threaten the region. What capabilities does "Kazán" have?

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the four Russian ships are the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov," the nuclear-powered submarine "Kazán," the tanker "Akademik Pashin," and the rescue tug "Nikolay Chiker." The vessels will be stationed in the port of Havana, which is about 155 miles from Florida.

The "Kazán" submarine of Project 885M (Yasen-M) is a modernized version of Project 885 Yasen, a fourth-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine. The unit entered service in May 2021. Russia has a few other submarines of this type—"Severodvinsk," which entered service in 2014, and "Krasnoyarsk," which has been in service since 2022.

"Kazán" is 394 feet long, 43 feet wide, and has a displacement of about 15,400 tons. The submarine can dive to depths of up to 1,968 feet and operate autonomously for up to 100 days. Its exact technical specifications remain secret. However, it is known that the unit can carry 533 mm caliber torpedoes, as well as Oniks, Kalibr, and Granat missiles, and a 64-person crew operates it.

Yasen-M submarines are the first Russian constructs equipped with the MGK-600 Irtysh-Amfora spherical sonar. These units are also tranquil – especially compared to other Russian submarines, which can reach up to 40 mph speeds.