ST. PETERSBURG, July 5 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s Sevmash shipyard on Friday confirmed earlier announced plans to deliver three nuclear-powered submarines to the Russian Navy by the end of this year.
“Sevmash is confirming the delivery of a Project 885 Yasen-class and two Borey-class nuclear submarines to the Russian Navy in 2013,” Sevmash head Mikhail Budnichenko told reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Maritime Defense Show.
Borey-class ballistic-missle submarines are to become the mainstay of the Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent, replacing the aging Project 941 (designated by NATO as Typhoon-class) and Project 667 (Delta-3 and Delta-4) boats.
The Borey-class Alexander Nevsky submarine is expected to be handed over to the Navy on November 15, while the other Borey-class sub, the Vladimir Monomakh, will join the fleet in mid-December, Budnichenko said.
The official added that the commissioning of both of those submarines would depend on the success of a Bulava-missile test launch from the Alexander Nevsky in September.
A total of eight Borey-class submarines are to be built for the Russian Navy by 2020. Russia’s fleet received its first such submarine, the Yury Dolgoruky, in January.
Sevmash is also planning to deliver the Severodvinsk, the first Yasen-class (NATO: Graney-class) nuclear attack submarine, by the end of this year, Budnichenko said.
That vessel is currently undergoing final sea trials in the White Sea. Russia plans to build at least eight Yasen-class submarines, which are to form the Navy’s main underwater attack fleet.
