Signing of Borei Contract Postponed

25.04.2012 Procurement contract for Project 955 Borei strategic submarines would unlikely be signed in April, since prices have not been agreed so far, reported Interfax on Tuesday referring to Russian Vice Premier Dmitry Rogozin.

According to him, the contract deals with submarines planned for construction in 4-5 years. "There's an array of new development works on powerplant, guidance systems, navigation, and so", explained the vice premier.

Another problem is that manufacturer of Borei-class subs – Sevmash shipyard – has no precise information on prices for all systems installed in the subs. Some of those systems are produced by monopolist companies. As for Rogozin, batch-produced Project 955 subs may cost 30 percent cheaper than the experimental prototype.

Deputy defense minister Alexander Sukhorukov announced on Apr 19 that the Borei contract would be signed by the end of April.

First Borei-class submarine – SSBN Yury Dolgoruky – will be commissioned in Oct 2012 along with submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) R-30 Bulava. As is expected, two test launches of Bulava would be carried out by the second Borei-class sub – SSBN Alexander Nevsky which is to join Russian Navy early in 2013.

In total, Russian defense ministry plans to build eight Project 955 Borei nuclear-powered strategic submarines by 2017. Third sub of the project – SSBN Vladimir Monomakh – is under construction at Sevmash shipyard. As was reported, the fourth Borei-class submarine will bear the name of Svyatitel Nikolai.