By Prensa Latina
Moscow : Russian Army Head Vladimir Visotski assured in Moscow that the Borey class strategic submarine (SSBN), capable of launching long-range nuclear armed missiles is scheduled to enter service before the end of 2008.
Ninety-four percent of the new sub is already built and will enter service by the end of November, Russian Army Head specified.
The missile weighs less than 50 tons, making it lighter than the “Topol-M.” It was also confirmed that “Bulava” will carry 10 nuclear warheads.
For the first time in the history of Soviet/Russian submarine-building, “Bulava” will be launched at an angle to the submarine’s course instead of vertically. Russia will reinforce its Fleet of the Pacific with one of these talents of new generation, add military sources
Russia may obtain a significant fleet of SSBNs comparable to the naval leg of the US triad. In the coming years, it will be important to observe whether the Russian Navy will also be able to restore the intensity of its SSBN patrols, which have declined to one or two per year and hindered the survivability of its SSBN fleet.
The first fleet SSBN nuclear power station will start up in 2010, Ivanov added, quoted by RIA Novosti.
Recently, the spokesman of Navy Army CaptainIgor Digalo indicated that Russian submarines fleet holds second place in importance the world due to its potential after US.
In spite of the quantitative reductions, the construction of new SSBN does not stop in the shipyards of Severodvinsk and in Saint Petersburg, the official concluded.