Russia Developing Fifth Gen Nuclear Powered Watercraft

Russia is developing two fifth generation nuclear powered watercraft “Aircraft carrier killer” and “underwater interceptor” to expand its submarine fleet.

The submarines' project is part of a $350 billion military modernization program.

The head of Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation's state defense order department Anatoly Shlemov told Lenta.ru last week that the "aircraft carrier killer" which is equipped with cruise missiles, will be used for defeating coastal and surface targets, especially aircraft carriers.

The "underwater interceptor" will be tasked with protecting groups of ballistic missile carrying submarines and fighting against enemy submarines. Both submarines will be based on the same class but different in armaments and purposes.

The project is run by the Malakhit marine engineering design bureau. The modernization program is scheduled to be completed by 2020.

Earlier in June, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Chirkov, said that Russia's Sevmash shipbuilding company was building a fifth-generation nuclear-powered submarine. "We need low-noise, fast-maneuvering submarines with the highest level of stealthiness and equipped with powerful weapons," he added.

By 2020, the Russian Navy is expected to operate a total of eight state-of-the-art Borei-class submarines and seven Yasen-class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

The Russian Navy currently has 60 submarines, about 10 of which are nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, and more than 30 are multipurpose nuclear submarines and The rest are diesel and special purpose vessels.