Russia may develop fully-fledged fleet by 2050 - Navy commander

26.07.2010 Russia may be able to develop a fully-fledged fleet by 2050, but needs to act fast, Russian Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said on Saturday.

"If we decide to build a fully-fledged fleet now, we should realize that we will only get this fleet by 2050," Vysotsky told the Ekho Moskvy radio station.

The main bulk of the fleet, however, may be ready by 2035, he said.

Russia seeks to bring its worn-out Soviet-era fleet up to modern standards as part of a larger effort to modernize its bloated armed forces.