One of the Project 667BDR/Delta III submarines, K-44 Ryazan, almost completed an overhaul at the Zvezdochka plant in Severodvinsk. According to a representative of the plant, Ryazan is expected to return to its Northern Fleet base in October 2007.

It is not clear what is the purpose of this overhaul. Submarines of this class are fairly old - they were built in the late 1970s-early 1980s. Although submarines can still stay in service if properly maintained, the missiles that they carry, R-29R, are probably past their useful lives at this point. START data shows that Project 667BDR submarines have been withdrawn from service in recent years. One possibility is that the submarine will be used for launches of the Volna space launcher - K-44 Ryazan was used as a launch platform back in July 2002.

UPDATE 12/13/07: The submarine entered sea trials on December 13, 2007.