Russia Launches New-Generation Nuke Sub

(Severodvinsk, Russia) The first nuclear submarine built since the fall of the Soviet Union has been launched at a cost of $890 million (23 billion rubles). It has been named the Yuri Dolgoruky after a Slavic prince who once helped defend Moscow. The boat is the first in a planned group of eight submarines called the Borei-class.


Borei-class nuclear submarine
Note that the $890 million price tag for the Borei-class boats seems quite cheap. As I recall, new American nuclear submarines cost at least twice that amount.

From MOSNEWS.com:

The long-delayed Yuri Dolgoruky, the first Borei-class (Arctic Wind) nuclear submarine, was moved to the dry docks at a highly secret submarine base in the Arctic town of Severodvinsk, the heart of Russia's northern submarine fleet.

Sergei Ivanov, who rules the military-industrial sector, took part in the ceremony along with the navy top brass and Kremlin advisers.

"For the first time in 17 years we are launching such a vessel -- in essence this is the first Russian strategic submarine, a submarine of the new generation," Ivanov said at the ceremony.

The launch of the new submarine is part of a plan, approved by President Vladimir Putin, to upgrade the core of Russia's undersea nuclear attack forces, military analysts said.

After some devastating accidents, including the Kursk in 2000, President Putin increased funding dramatically to the submarine fleet. According to one former Russian naval engineer, Putin wants to demonstrate that Russia is still a great power and that means great weapons.

Ominous, though, is this quote:

"Russia's attack submarines fulfil the function of preventing the United States's freedom of action at sea," said Ivan Safranchuk, head of the World Security Institute's Moscow office. (sic)

The Borei-class boats will carry the Bulava-M ballistic missiles (range - 5,000 miles) which, unfortunately, have thus far lacked reliability. The weapon has failed to successfully fire in four of its last five tests.