Record-Breaking Russian Navy New Ships Total

08/07/2013 by Paul Fiddian - Armed Forces International's Lead Reporter

36 new ships will enter Russian Naval service this year: a record number. That's according to a statement made by Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov - the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy - on 7 July 2013.

The total includes warships, support vessels and fast attack craft and their arrival was announced during the International Maritime Defense Show, staged in St Petersburg.

Looking further ahead, almost 80 warships and submarines are set to be pressed into service by 2020, further boosting Russia's naval capability when, even now, some 60 Russian combat ships are operationally deployed at locations around the world.

New Russian Navy Ships

"As a result of the implementation of the state rearmament program to 2020, the navy should receive eight nuclear-powered strategic submarines, 16 multirole submarines and 54 warships of various classes", Sergei Shoigu - the Russian Defense Minister - explained in a statement on the new Russian Navy ships.

Included in this group of nuclear submarines are three Borei and five Borei-A class machines, equipped with Bulava missiles. The other submarines are made up of Graney, Kilo and Lada-class designs while the warships comprise of Buyan-class corvettes, Ivan Gren-class landing ships and Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates.

Speaking last year, Vladimir Putin - the Russian President - stressed the importance of acquiring new naval assets. To that end, more than $160bn - 25 per cent of Russia's defence budget - has been allocated to introduce new or upgraded technologies into the Russian Navy.

Russian Navy Re-equipment

In news related to the Russian Navy's re-equipment, Russia and Italy have given their joint S-1000 submarine programme new inertia by announcing design changes in early July 2013. Initiated in 2004, the S-1000 programme involves the development of a multirole-capable submarine weighing 1,000 tons, with a top speed of 14 knots and the capacity to transport 12 troops.

Externally, the S-1000 will retain its earlier form but, now, its developers say its interior will be heavily modified. Almost a decade in development, this submarine might finally now move forward to prototype stage.