Russia to build 2 nuclear destroyers for its Navy.

Russia plans to build two nuclear-powered Leader-class destroyers of project 23560 worth close to 100 billion rubles each, a source in the shipbuilding industry told TASS.

Scale model showing the Project 23560E "Shkval-class" Destroyer (export variant of Leader-class) at Army 2016 exhibition (Picture source : Navy Recognition)

The preliminary design has been completed, research is ongoing and the technical project drafted. "According to the state arms program for 2018-2027, the R&D has to begin in 2021 and construction is to follow. It will take seven years to build one destroyer, according to preliminary estimates," the source said.

The lead and the first serial destroyers have to be floated in late 2020s. "The preliminary cost of each warship is 100 bln rubles," he said. The destroyers will have a length of 230 meters and a displacement of 20 thousand tons. "The Leader can carry over a hundred precision Tsirkon, Kalibr or Onix missiles," the source said.

The United Shipbuilding Corporation refused comment, but said its shipyards were ready to build warships of such a class.

© Copyright 2019 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.