Introducing the new Yasen-M-class submarine into the Arctic—equipped with Zircon hypersonic missiles—is a clear sign that Russia intends to be the most powerful actor at the top of the world.
Last Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin observed that it was “no secret” that Russia’s defense capabilities are “largely connected with the research and use of northern latitudes.” As the Russian leader put it, “Our strategic submarines sail under the ice of the Arctic Ocean and disappear from radars … This is our military advantage. And research, including [in the Arctic], is extremely important for us.”
In other words, while Washington has focused on the war in Ukraine—a war that has gone on far too long, and one that is fundamentally peripheral to America’s interests—Moscow has boldly moved to dominate America’s attic, the Arctic.
These remarks were made in relation to the recent launch of the Russian Navy’s newest Yasen-M-class submarine, the Perm. According to Thomas Nilsen writing in the pages of the Barents Observer, the Perm “is the first of the Yasen-M-class that will be a regular carrier of Zircon missiles, the weapon designed to be armed either with a conventional warhead or a nuclear warhead.”
What to Know About the Yasen-M-Class Submarine
- Year Introduced: 2021
- Number Built: 5 (6 including non-Yasen-M)
- Length: 130 m (430 ft)
- Beam (Width): 13 m (43 ft)
- Displacement: 8,600 tons surfaced; 13,800 tons submerged
- Engines: One OK-650KPM pressurized water reactor; 200 mwt steam turbine, 43,000 shp
- Top Speed: 20 kn (37 kph, 23 mph) surfaced; 35 kn (65 kph, 40 mph) submerged
- Range: Unlimited
- Armaments: 8 missile silos with 4 VLS each (32 missiles total); 10 torpedo tubes; IGLA-M SAM battery
- Crew: 64 (reduced from 85 in original Yasen-class due to automation)
The Yasen-M-class submarine, also known in Russia as “Project 885M,” is an advanced variant of Russia’s Yasen-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). Developed by Malakhit Marine Engineering Bureau and built at the Sevmash shipyard, these submarines are designed to replace older Soviet-era vessels, like the Akula-class and Oscar II-class submarines. Yasen-Ms combine anti-submarine warfare (ASW) with the ability to launch long-range cruise missiles, making them versatile multi-purpose platforms.
Design work on the overall Yasen series of subs began in the 1980s, but the Yasen-M variant began entering service in 2021 with the commissioning of K-561 Kazan. Russia’s Perm, the newest Yasen-class submarine, is the sixth in the overall class and the fifth of the powerful Yasen-M-class variant. It was laid down on July 29, 2016, at Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk and launched on March 27, 2025, during a ceremony attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Now undergoing sea trials, it is expected to be formally commissioned into the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet later this year.
The Perm’s Missile Loadout Should Frighten the Pentagon
The Perm holds particular significance as the first Yasen-M-class submarine purpose-built as a regular carrier of the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missiles, rather than retrofitted like some earlier units. This capability positions Perm as a key asset for hypersonic strikes, potentially targeting naval vessels or land-based assets at high speeds. Reports indicate that Perm’s integration of Zircon represents a shift toward standardizing hypersonic weapons on new submarines, with future units like Ulyanovsk, Voronezh, and Vladivostok expected to follow suit.
As for the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, these weapons are unique in that they are fully deployable and integrated into Russia’s growing arsenal. The United States lacks these weapons, and does not have any meaningful defense against them. Nor do America’s allies in NATO and elsewhere. Zircon missiles travel at speeds up to Mach 9 and have a range of around 560 miles. Their hypersonic speed and maneuverability make them extremely difficult, if not impossible, to intercept.
Russia Is Winning the Race for the Arctic
Introducing this submarine carrying Zircon missiles into the Arctic is a clear sign that Moscow intends to be the most powerful actor at the top of the world. For the United States, such an outcome is unacceptable. But it further highlights how badly the Americans have allowed the strategic situation to collapse.
Putin’s government has been making noise about dominating the Arctic since a Russian miniature submarine placed a Russian flag on the Arctic seafloor back in 2007. Ever since then, the Americans have relegated this vital region to secondary importance, while the Russians have worked assiduously to control and exploit it.
This fact has been a major reason for President Donald Trump’s quixotic push to annex Greenland and to bring Canada more in line with Washington’s preferences on trade and regional security. With the Russians running roughshod over the Arctic, the United States Navy must take a more proactive role there. It is behind the strategic curve. Today, the Russians are enhancing their dominance in the High North while Washington still argues about how to implement Trump’s visionary hemispheric defense strategy.
America could soon see Russian subs dipping below the Arctic ice, armed with unstoppable Zircon hypersonic missiles showing up on America’s East Coast—unchallenged and unmatched by the US Navy.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Kuleshov Oleg.
