Russian nuclear subs to patrol southern seas

[Safriz]

Russia is planning to
deploy nuclear ballistic
missile submarines to
the southern seas for
the first time since a
20-year break that
followed the collapse
of the USSR, sources
told Russian media.
Starting from 2014, Russia is going to
expand its strategic submarine patrol
area of the World Ocean, a source in
the Russian General Staff told Itar-Tass
agency. The statement comes as the
Russian Northern Fleet – the country’s
most powerful – is celebrating the
80th anniversary since its foundation
in 1933.
Once the nuclear-powered Borei-class
submarines are put into service, the
Russian Navy “will not only continue
the patrolling of the Arctic, Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans,” but also return to
the regions in the southern hemisphere
which were patrolled by Soviet subs
until the dissolution of the USSR in the
90s.
“This would serve to solve the tasks of
strategic nuclear deterrence not only
across the North Pole but also the
South Pole,” the source pointed.
Former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral
Viktor Kravchenko, said that if there is
a necessity to launch missiles across
the South Pole, “it is technically
possible” to do so.
Russia’s first and head Borei
submarine, the Yury Dolgoruky, was
put into service in January this year.
By the end of 2013, the Russian Navy
will receive two more vessels of the
class, the Aleksandr Nevsky and the
Vladimir Monomakh, which are
currently undergoing sea trials.
A Borei-class undersea boat is a state-
of-the-art 170-meter long vessel
which is capable of carrying 16 Bulava
SLBMs, has a crew of 107, including 55
officers, can dive to a depth of 450
meters and has a submerged speed of
about 29 knots (54 km/h). The sub can
spend up to three months in
autonomous navigation and, thanks to
the latest achievements in the
reduction of noise, it is almost silent
compared to previous generations of
submarines.
Construction of the first missile carrier
– the Yury Dolgoruky – is
approximately estimated at around US
$770 million, while other submarines of
the class are believed to cost less.
It is planned that by 2018, the Russian
Navy will have eight Borei vessels,
which will form the core of the
country’s strategic submarine fleet.
Apart from Boreis, the Navy will
receive seven Yasen-class nuclear
powered multipurpose attack
submarines. The design is comparable
to the US Seawolf class submarine in
terms of purpose and characteristics.
The first ship of the series,
Severodvinsk, was launched in 2010
and will be put into service by the end
of 2013, Russia's Deputy Defense
Minister Yuri Borisov said earlier.

 

[pkuser2k12]

all the text is unaligned cant understand very difficult to read.