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Russia to lay down 3 Yasen-class, 2 Borei-class submarine in 2015

Borei-class ballistic-missile submarines are to become the backbone of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent
Yasen class nuclear submarine Severodvinsk ITAR-TASS/Vladimir Larionov
Yasen class nuclear submarine Severodvinsk
© ITAR-TASS/Vladimir Larionov

SEVERODVINSK /Arkhangelsk Region/, December 26. /TASS/. The seventh and eigth Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines will be laid down by the end of 2015, the head of the Rubin design bureau said on Friday.

Igor Vilnit said the key task of designers and shipbuilders is not the increase of the number of submarines but maintenance of those boats that are currently in service.

Mikhail Budnichenko, the head of the Sevmash shipyard, told TASS that three Project 885M Yasen-class attack submarines and two Borei-class submarines will be laid down next year.

The Borei-class ballistic-missile submarines are to become the backbone of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent.

The submarines displace 24,000 tons, reach speeds of 29 knots (some 54 km per hour), can dive to 450 meters and carry crews of 107 people. The vessels will be armed with up to 16 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which have a range of over 8,000 kilometers.