Putin: Russian Navy to Recommission Mothballed Subs

01.08.2012 Russian Navy's submarine fleet will be reinforced not only with new subs but with decommissioned ones as well, reports Izvestiya referring to Russian president Vladimir Putin. As for him, it is impermissible that large number of submarines stay in reserve pending scheduled repairs. The president did not specify what submarines are in question. About 20 nuclear-powered and diesel subs are presently mothballed in Russia.

As was reported in Sept 2011, Russian defense ministry decided to write off all Project 941 Akula strategic nuclear submarines by 2014. Russian Navy operates one sub of this class at the time – trial submarine SSBN Dmitry Donskoy. Other two such subs are in reserve; they are SSBN Severstal and SSBN Arkhangelsk. Basic weapons of Akula-class submarines – ballistic missiles R-39 and R-39U - are no longer in production.

Later on, Russian defense ministry confuted reports about writing off the subs saying their future had not been determined so far. However, ITAR-TASS reported in March 2012 referring to a source in defense ministry that repair and modernization of Akula-class submarines would not be performed due to high cost comparable to construction of two new Project 955 Borei subs.

According to different sources, there are five nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, five nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines, seven nuclear-powered torpedo submarines, and three diesel electric submarines in reserve at Russian Navy. Putin said that State Arms Program 2011-2020 implied procurement of eight new Borei-class submarines and 16 multipurpose subs.

Financing of the Navy rearmament program is evaluated as RUR 4.5 trillions. It is planned to build 51 surface ships.

Fourth Borei-class nuclear submarine was laid down on July 30, 2012 in Severodvinsk under the improved Project 955A. Two Boreis have been already built (SSBN Yury Dolgoruky and SSBN Alexander Nevsky) and the third sub is currently under construction (SSBN Vladimir Monomakh).