The
Alexander Nevsky was expected to be handed over to the Navy on November
15, while the third Borey-class sub (Vladimir Monomakh) was due to be
commissioned in mid-December, Sevmash chief Mikhail Budnichenko said
in July.
Ballistic missile submarines comprise one leg of Russia’s strategic
nuclear triad, along with land-based ICBMs and the bomber force.
The Borey is Russia’s
first post-Soviet ballistic missile submarine class and will form
the mainstay of the strategic submarine fleet, replacing aging Typhoon,
Delta-3 and Delta-4 boats.
Russia ultimately expects
eight Borey-class subs to enter service by 2020. The third in the
class, the Vladimir Monomakh, is expected to start state-acceptance
trials this month.