Global Security Newswire

Russia intends to place two Borei-class submarines on active duty in 2012, followed by one more of the ballistic missile vessels in each of the following six years, a Russian armed forces and defense insider said to ITAR-Tass on Friday (see GSN, Oct. 26, 2011).

The Yuri Dolgoruky and Alexander Nevsky submarines are expected to begin operations this year with the Russian strategic nuclear force. Borei-class submarines are designed to carry Russia's new Bulava ballistic missile, according to earlier reports (see GSN, Jan. 3).

“Eight Borei submarines will be built at the Sevmash shipyard ahead of time, with two years ahead of the deadline, envisaged under the state armament program through 2020," the insider said.

"The Sevmash shipyard will focus on the construction of new missile-carrying submarines, the main sources will be allocated there, probably even thanks to a partially weaker program to build new Yasen multifunctional nuclear-powered submarines," the insider added (see GSN, July 27, 2009). "The last submarine from eight Borei submarines is scheduled to be put in the strategic nuclear forces in 2018"  (ITAR-Tass, Jan. 20).