SEVERODVINSK (Sputnik) –Russia’s shipbuilding company Sevmash will begin the construction of two nuclear submarines, one Borei-class (project 955) and a Yasen-class (project 885) in 2016, the company’s general director said Friday.
"We have two construction projects planned for next year, which are the nuclear submarines from the Borei and Yasen projects," Mikhail Budnichenko said.
The Russian Navy is currently equipped with one Yasen-class submarine, the Severodvinsk, with four more subs of its class under construction.
According to Russia’s Naval Doctrine, Yasen-class submarines will become the main multipurpose nuclear-powered subs in the Russian Navy.
By 2020, the Russian Navy also plans to operate a total of eight Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines, which will become the mainstay of the naval component of the country’s strategic nuclear deterrent.