Putin beefs up naval nuclear arsenal, promises more subs
“With such sailors, with such vessels and with such weapons, Russia will feel safe,” Vladimir Putin wrote in the guest book on the bridge at one of the warships at port in Severodvinsk.
Putin’s visit to the north Russian Arkhangelsk region was not announced and came as a surprise to locals who Monday morning discovered police and security forces at every street corner as the president’s motorcade came to Severodvinsk.
The president went directly to Sevmash, the only shipyard in Russia building nuclear-powered submarines.
“We are consistently equipping the Navy with the most modern equipment and weapons and, let me emphasize, we are increasing serial production. Thus, Imperator Aleksandr III is already the seventh vessel in the series of Borei-class strategic missile carriers, and the cruiser Krasnoyarsk is the fourth vessel in the series of Yasen-class multi-purpose nuclear boats,” Putin said from stage.
A transcript of Putin’s speech is posted on Vkontakte by Sevmash.
He promised to keep up Russia’s construction program for more nuclear-powered submarines of the 4th generation.
“Work to increase Russia’s naval power will certainly continue. In the coming years, as part of the state armament program, three more Borei-A class strategic missile carriers should be launched from the legendary Sevmash and transferred to the Navy.”
The Borei-A class subs can each carry 16 Bulava ballistic missiles and form the naval leg of Russia’s nuclear deterrence.
Five more of the multipurpose Yasen-M class subs are currently under construction at the north Russian yard, including the Arkhangelsk which was put on water in late November this year.
Three additional subs of the class will follow, bringing the total number up to 12, six for the Northern Fleet and six for the Pacific Fleet.
The Krasnoyarsk will, like the Imperator Aleksandr III, sail for the Pacific Fleet.
Vladimir Putin recently approved the country’s 2024 budget with a record high portion going to the armed forces. Defense and security structures will next year reach about 40% of the total expenditure.
No details are provided on the costs of each new nuclear submarine now being rolled out.
Photo: Sevmash
Vladimir Putin and Navy Chief Nikolai Yevmenov in Arkhangelsk. Photo: Kremlin.ru
Upon arrival in the Arkhangelsk region on 11th of December, Putin headed straight to the naval city of Severodvinsk where he attended the flag-raising ceremony for the two nuclear-powered submarines.
He subsequently sat down for talks with regional Governor Aleksandr Tsybulsky and chaired a video meeting with the leaders of all of Russia’s nine Arctic regions.
On the agenda were the so-called Arctic support points that have been chosen as sites for new industry and infrastructure. A total of 16 sites are included in the list. Among them is the Tiksi-Nayba area in the Sakha region.
According to Head of the Sakha regional government Aysen Nikolayev, Tiksi-Nayba will be an area of significant growth. Among the upcoming investments is the building of infrastructure to the nearby village of Ust-Kuyga where Rosatom is in the process of planning a small-scale nuclear power station.
The installation will be the world’s first land-based station of its kind and be based on a RITM-200N reactor. It will have a heat and electricity production capacity of 190 MW 55 MW respectively and can serve for up to 60 years, Rosatom informs.
The power plant will provide energy to the nearby Kyuchussky mining area where several minerals and metals will be extracted, among them gold, tin and various rare earth metals.
The seaports of nearby Tiksi and Nayba will serve as local logistical hubs. By year 2032, the port of Nayba will be able to handle up to 15 million tons of goods per year, Governor Nikolayev explained to Putin.
Also the port of Tiksi will significantly be expanded. It will not only be able to handle far more goods, but also serve cruise vessels, the regional leader said.
Arctic developments have been high on the agenda of Putin after he prolonged his presidential tenure in 2018. According to his ambitious plans for the region is the boost in shipments on the Northern Sea Route to 80 million tons in year 2024.
That objective will be far from fulfilment. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of the Far East and Arctic, the volume will amount to 36 million tons in 2023.
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