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Russian strategic Akula-class subs can be rearmed to carry Kalibr cruise missiles — expert

The Arkhangelsk and the Severstal subs, carrying ballistic missiles, have been withdrawn from the Navy’s structure and are staying in the dock of the Zvyozdochka Ship Repair Center in Severodvinsk

Arkhangelsk submarine Lev Fedoseev/TASS

Arkhangelsk submarine

© Lev Fedoseev/TASS

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. The world’s largest Project 941 ‘Akula’ strategic nuclear-powered submarines can be rearmed to carry at least 200 Kalibr cruise missiles each, former First Deputy Chief of the Russian Navy’s Main Staff Vice-Admiral Oleg Burtsev told TASS on Wednesday.

Today two Akula-class submarines, the Arkhangelsk and the Severstal, both of which carried ballistic missiles, have been withdrawn from the Navy’s structure and are staying in the dock of the Zvyozdochka Ship Repair Center in Severodvinsk slated for their subsequent disposal.

However, instead of their disposal, the Akula-class subs can be re-equipped to carry Kalibr, Oniks and Tsirkon missiles, the vice-admiral said.

"The dimensions of these submarines allow arming each of them with at least 200 cruise missiles," he said.

As an example of such modernization, he pointed to four US Ohio-class strategic submarines that carry 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles (previously, they carried Trident-1 balletic missiles).

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