Article Posted on : - May 10, 2010

The Project 941 Akula class nuclear attack submarine of Russia. A file photo

MOSCOW (BNS): The Russian Navy will retain its Akula class nuclear attack submarines in service till 2019, the country�s Navy chief has said.

�They (the Akula class subs) will remain in the fleet at a minimum until 2019,� Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky was quoted by Arms-Tass as saying.

The Navy Chief said that modernisation opportunities for the attack submarines �are very large, there are several options.�

The Russian naval fleet at present comprises of three Project 941 Akula class (NATO name Typhoon) nuclear submarines out of the six constructed. One of them � the Dmitry Donskoy � has been refurbished to be used as a platform for test launching the Bulava ballistic missiles.

The other two vessels of this family � the Arkhangelsk and the Severstal � are awaiting modernization in a shipyard, according to RIA Novosti.

Russia is building the new Borey class ballistic missile submarines which will replace the Akula-class subs.