Russian Navy develops infrastructure of its four fleets - commander
MOSCOW. Nov 23 (Interfax-AVN) - A new base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Novorossiysk will be ready by 2020, Navy Commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov told reporters on Friday.
"The Geoport for ships from new projects and submarines is under construction in Novorossiysk. The project was launched long ago. Hopefully, the construction will be complete by 2020. There is a lot of work to do and it is very difficult," Admiral Chirkov said.
He said that infrastructure of other Russian fleets was also developing.
The North Fleet is building a new complex to base Borei strategic submarines.
A new pier and docks are under construction for Yasen multi-role nuclear submarines. "The facilities will have the necessary infrastructure, primarily energy resources," the admiral stressed.
The Pacific Fleet is drafting a program to deploy Mistral helicopter ships. New submarines will be based in Kamchatka.
Moorings for new Baltic Fleet corvettes and subs are under construction in Baltiysk, the commander added.
Fleet airbases are being modernized, too. "We are reconstructing airfields capable of serving all types of jetliners. The works are underway in Kaliningrad, in the North and in the Pacific Fleet locations," he said.
The airfields are being built close to towns, which will give jobs to servicemen's families and kindergartens, schools and social infrastructure to their children, Chirkov said.
Much attention is given to comfortable living of servicemen and their families, he said. "They must have a chance to visit a town and to live in comfortable residential blocks not far from places of their service," the admiral said.
Russian Spetsstroy Director Alexander Naginsky said in 2011 that coastal facilities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet would be ready in 2014 and the breakwater would be built by 2017. "Starting from next year 9 billion rubles will be assigned annually for building the Black Sea Fleet's reserve base in Novorossiysk," he told reporters earlier.
Some 3 billion rubles were assigned for building the Novorossiysk infrastructure in 2011, he said.
He also said the construction of the fleet's compound in Novorossiysk would start in the end of 2012.
Some of the Black Sea Fleet units would be moved to Novorossiysk by 2014. "The mission will be accomplished in 2017," Naginsky said.