Russian shipyards will float out five combat and auxiliary ships for the
Russian Navy each year in line with the existing shipbuilding program, Navy
chief Adm. Viktor Chirkov said on Wednesday.
“I think that we will be able to float out up to five warships and auxiliary
ships every year,” Chirkov told reporters in St.
Petersburg at the launch of the Igor Belousov
sea-rescue ship, which is expected to be commissioned in 2014.
The construction of the Igor Belousov started in 2005 at the Admiralty
Shipyards in St. Petersburg but has
faced a series of setbacks.
The ship is designed to perform a variety of missions, including the search,
rescue and salvage of submarines in distress. It is equipped with advanced
deep-sea search-and-rescue equipment, including a deep-sea diving system
produced by the Scottish firm DIVEX.
Igor Belousov is the first rescue ship built in post-Soviet Russia.
The vessel is vital for the Russian Navy as it still lacks reliable means to
rescue submarines in distress.
According to Chirkov, the ships of this type will be put in service with all
Russian fleets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last year that the procurement of new
ships and submarines for the Navy would be a priority over the next decade. The
Russian government has allocated five trillion rubles ($156 bln) or a quarter
of the entire armament procurement budget until 2020 for this purpose.
In addition to at least eight Borey class nuclear subs, the Navy will
receive 14 frigates, 35 corvettes, six Buyan class small artillery ships and
six Ivan Gren Class landing ships
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