President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ( 27 March) launched a nuclear-powered submarine equipped with hypersonic Zircon missiles capable of travelling at several times the speed of sound.

• Putin announced that the submarine will enter service with the Russian Navy and take on combat tasks starting next year.
• Perm is the fifth in the Russian Navy’s Yasen-M class submarine series. The keel for its construction was laid in July 2016.
• The submarine has a partial double-hull design, with the outer hull in the forebody and the superstructure in the missile-pit area.
• Additionally, the body of the submarine is rubber-covered to lower noise and reduce sonar reflection, making it quieter.