Russian Navy To Receive First Borei II-Class Nuclear Submarine In 2019 - Defense Minister

Knyaz Vladimir, the first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine of the improved Project 955А (Borei-II class), will enter service with the Russian Navy in 2019, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th December, 2018) Knyaz Vladimir, the first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine of the improved Project 955А (Borei-II class), will enter service with the Russian Navy in 2019, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.

"Transfer the lead nuclear submarine cruiser of the Borei-A project, Knyaz Vladimir, armed with Bulava ballistic missiles, to the navy," Shoigu said at an extended panel meeting, when speaking of plans for the Russian Armed Forces for 2019.

The Knyaz Vladimir is the first submarine of the improved Borei II class. In comparison with the Borei-class, the Borei II-class submarines are fitted with four additional ballistic missile tubes, boast smaller hulls, and feature improved acoustics and "detection signature" levels, among other technical improvements. All Borei-class subs are armed with Bulava (RSM-56) intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), each capable of carrying with up to 10 independently-targetable nuclear warheads.