Defense Ministry to Purchase More Yasen and Borei Subs

07.02.2012 Russian State Arms Program 2011-2020 has undergone considerable changes since Feb 2011. Now the program provides larger volume of arms procurement, writes Kommersant referring to sources in Russian defense ministry. Major changes have affected items related to development and reinforcement of Russian Navy.

In particular, now the document implies procurement not eight Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered ballistic submarines (SSBN) but ten of them. Besides, the military is about to buy same number of Project 885 Yasen nuclear-powered attack submarines. All subs will be constructed by Sevmash shipyard. In addition, by 2020 Russian Navy will receive 20 non-nuclear submarines including six Project 636.3 Varshavyanka diesel electric subs.

Meanwhile, number of frigates planned for construction has been reduced from 15 to 14. They are eight Project 22350 frigates built by Severnaya Verf and six Project 11356 frigates built by Yantar shipyard. Amount of corvettes remained the same – 35 ships including 18 of projects 20380 and 20385. Additionally, defense ministry plans to purchase six Project 21630 Buyan small-size gunnery ships and six Project 11711 large landing ships.

Vice Premier Dmitry Rogozin earlier said that Russia would soon adopt a 30-year seapower buildup plan. The document is expected to be finished in June 2012. No details have been announced so far. Rogozin said financing of the Navy in 2012-2014 will make up to 10% of overall state defense order. In 2012, it will be RUR 900 bln including governmental guarantees to manufacturers.

In Apr 2011 Russian premier Putin announced RUR 5 trillions would be spent for Navy modernization till 2020, which is roughly a quarter of overall financing appropriated for State Arms Program.