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.