The Yury Dolgoruky (Image gallery), Russia's first Borey class strategic nuclear submarine, was taken out of dry dock in April 2007. It is now in the final stages of completion and is due to be put through sea trials in the near future.
The submarine is 170 meters (580 feet) long, has a hull diameter of 13 meters (42 feet), a crew of 107 (55 officers), a maximum diving depth of 450 meters (about 1,500 feet) and a submerged speed of about 29 knots. It can carry up to 16 ballistic missiles (Bulava, upgraded from Topol-M SS-27 missiles).
Two other Borey-class nuclear submarines, the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monomakh, are currently under construction at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia and are expected to be completed in 2009 and 2011.
Russia's Navy commander, Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky, said in July that the construction of new-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile and attack submarines was a top priority in the development of the Russian Navy.
Under the Russian State Armaments Program for 2007-2015, the Navy will receive several dozen surface warships and submarines, including five Project 955 Borey nuclear-powered strategic ballistic submarines armed with new Bulava ballistic missiles, two Project 885 Yasen nuclear-powered attack submarines, and six Project 677 Lada diesel-electric submarines.
