Russia's latest attack submarine will have an advanced sonar system allowing it to detect enemy ships at an early stage, its designers say.

The start of the construction of the Novosibirsk, the third of eight Yasen-class boats, was marked by a ceremony at the Sevmash shipyard near the White Sea Friday, RIA Novosti reported.

The new Yasen-M will be have an advanced design that would significantly increase its ability to detect enemy vessels moving at high speeds, designers at the Malakhit Marine Engineering Bureau said.

An "acoustically clean" bow section will be entirely dedicated to housing sonar systems, with the torpedo systems relocated to another part of the boat, they said.

In addition to torpedoes, the Yasen class will be armed with a multi-role missile system including a vertical-launcher for cruise missiles, the bureau announced.

The Severodvinsk, the first of the Yasen-class nuclear attack boats, will be delivered by the end of 2013, officials said.