The Russian Navy will receive dozens of new warships by 2020, Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said here on Monday.
"As a result of the governmental rearmament program, by 2020 the Navy will receive eight strategic submarines, 16 multi-purpose submarines, and 54 surface ships of various classes," local media quoted Shoigu as saying at a meeting of the Defense Ministry.
The minister stressed that constant upgrading of the fleet was an important part of the Navy's overall development.
By 2020, Russia plans to build eight Borei-class submarines to form the core of its nuclear deterrence strategy. They will replace the Project 941 (Typhoon by NATO classification) and Project 667 submarines.
The first Borei-class submarine, Yury Dolgoruky, was put into active service in January. A second one, Alexander Nevsky, has been undergoing sea tests. The construction of a third one, Alexander Suvorov, is to start in July.
