Eight Borey-class nuclear submarines will join the Russian Navy by 2020 and will be the backbone of Russia’s marine nuclear forces. “The Borey can serve up to 30 years with planned upkeep and modernization,” Igor Vilnit told RIA Novosti in an interview.
The submarines are equipped with Bulava ballistic missiles, which can carry a nuclear warhead with an operational range of up to 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles).
So far three of the eight submarines have already been completed, and another three are currently under construction. Two more should be ready by the end of 2015, Vilnit added. The Borey-class submarines, intended to replace the Delta- and Typhoon-class boats, are 170 meters (558 feet) long and require a crew of 107.
The first two Borey-class nuclear subs, the Yury Dolgoruky and the Alexander Nevsky, were commissioned in January and December 2013, respectively. They were followed by the Vladimir Monomakh officially inducted into the Russian Navy in December 2014.
