March 19, 2026 is the date to celebrate 120th anniversary of Russian submarine force by companies involved into submarine design and construction. On that day back in 1906, submarines were made an independent arm of the Russian Navy by order of the Russian Government. This date is regarded as official birthday of the submarine shield of Russia.

Submariners have been involved into professional submarine design in Russia since its very onset. Lieutenant Mikhail Beklemishev was one of the three specialists of the Submarine Design Commission established in 1900 wherefrom Rubin Design Bureau of the United Shipbuilding Corporation grew out thereafter. He was appointed Commanding Officer of "Dolphin", the first combatant submarine in Russia.

Today, Rubin has 65 employees with long service history in the Navy of the Soviet Union and Russia on-board conventional submarines (Project 613, 641B, 651 and 877) and nuclear submarines (Project 675, 667А, 667B, 667BDR, 667BDRM, 685, 941, 949А, 955 and 955А) designed by Rubin. These former naval servicemen retired as commanders of submarine departments, commanding officers of SSBNs, commanders of submarine formations, commanders of Technical Directorates of the Northern and Pacific Fleets including three Rear Admirals one of them being awarded the Hero of Russia medal. All these submariners went through multiple long-term patrols under ice of Arctic, North-West Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk and other Far-East seas, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Through their work in the Bureau, they contribute their vast practical experience to submarine design and serve as liaison with operating crews and fleets.

"In 2025 we celebrated 125th anniversary of Rubin - the first Russian "underwater" bureau - and this year we are going to commemorate 120 years of the submarine force of our country. No other deterrent exists that could be more covert than a submarine force and Rubin is proud of its long duty for the benefit of the Navy. Today we are engaged into construction and operation of the fourth-generation submarines, working on the fifth generation and designing unmanned platforms" - said Igor Vilnit, Director General of the Bureau.

Photo: Oleg Kuleshov