MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Navy’s newest ballistic missile submarines are not ready to begin operations in their primary role of carrying out nuclear deterrent patrols due to a failed test firing of the Bulava missile last year, a high command source told RIA Novosti on Friday.
The two Borey-class boats in question, the Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh, may instead be restricted to experimental testing in the attack role and armed with conventional weapons, the high command source said.
“The Borey-class strategic missile submarines can carry out the tasks of multi-role attack submarines by carrying other weapons on board – torpedoes and rocket-torpedoes. Just like a doctor of science can also teach math in a high school,” the source said.
The lead boat of the class, Yury Dolgoruky, was accepted into service by the navy at the end of 2012.
The two newest Borey-class boats are complete and were due to be handed over to the navy by the end of this year.
A decision could be taken to use the boats in alternative roles as the Alexander Nevsky is ready and has shown no faults, the source said.
The navy’s Lada-class diesel-electric submarine St. Petersburg was similarly accepted for testing and trials in 2010 but is still not in operational service with the fleet, he said.
The boat is currently undergoing further trials with the Northern Fleet after several systems were redesigned and replaced at the navy’s insistence.
