Project 949A Antei nuclear-powered submarines will be completed and modernized, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief ADM Vladimir Vysotsky told Izvestiya .
According to him, “we will complete Belgorod and other subs of that project “, reports Izvestiya .
Experts suppose Antei -class submarines will be armed with new cruise missiles with range up to 1,500 km.
In particular, the newspaper cites Capt 1 rank (retired) Konstantin Sivkov , vice president of Geopolitics Academy saying that Antei -class subs would be equipped with Caliber missiles in order to destroy missile defense assets deployed in Europe. According to a spokesman for Sevmash , the shipyard received the order only for completion of SSN Belgorod . By the way, the new project has substantial distinctions and may even obtain another name.
Source in United Shipbuilding Corporation told Izvestiya that SSN Belgorod would be a non-combat submarine used for intelligence purposes.
According to Izvestiya , “Russian Navy currently operates seven Project 949A Antei submarines, other two subs are under long-term repair, and another one is being prepared for dismantling. In addition, there is a non-completed hull of Antei-class submarine mothballed in 1998. Take note, maintenance of under-built subs costs Sevmash several billions rubles a year, and the Navy does not compensate those expenses” .
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, March 26, 2012; Image: btcd