Updated 6:00 p.m. Moscow Time
MOSCOW, October 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's third Borey-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the Vladimir Monomakh, has finished a comprehensive state trials program in preparation for commissioning with the Navy, the Sevmash shipyard said Tuesday.
"The Vladimir Monomakh strategic nuclear submarine has returned from the sea trials completing the program of extensive acoustic tests," Sevmash said in a statement.
According to the statement, the submarine has finished the state trials program and is now being prepared for delivery to the Russian Navy.
Earlier in September, Sevmash said that the construction of another Borey-class submarine, the Knyaz Suvorov, was expected to begin in December.
The Russian Navy already has two Borey-class submarines in service – the Yury Dolgoruky and the Alexander Nevsky.
The Borey class, Russia's first post-Soviet ballistic missile submarine design, will form the backbone of the fleet's strategic nuclear deterrent force after older boats are retired by 2018. Russia expects eight of the boats to enter service by 2020.
