Russian nuclear submarines deployment rate up nearly 50% in past year - Navy chief
KUBINKA, Moscow region. June 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The total time spent navigating by Russian ships and submarines increased by 30% in 2014-2015, the number of drills by 20%, Navy Commander-in-chief Admiral Viktor Chirkov told reporters at the Army-2015 exhibition on Wednesday.
"From January 2014 to March 2015 the total ship and submarine navigation time rose by 30%, the number of drills by 20%, the nuclear submarine deployment rate has increased by almost 50% in comparison with 2013," the commander said.
"The increase in the rate of nuclear submarine deployment in various parts of the World Ocean is due to the need to guarantee prevention of security threats to Russia," he stressed.
The Navy Command's immediate-term priority is to develop groups of nuclear strategic and multirole submarines of its Northern and Pacific Fleets, the commander also said.
"These groups will be developed at the expense of broadening the Navy's submarine fleet with new Borei- and Yasen-class boats and upgrading the existing projects. This will enable us to maintain the potential of the naval strategic nuclear forces at a level that makes it possible to execute the nuclear deterrence mission properly and efficiently," Chirkov said.