Continuing the series

Keel-laying of two ships for Russian Navy took place on Friday at Saint Petersburg shipyards. The project 677 Sevastopol submarine of the fourth generation was laid down at Admiralty Shipyards. Three hours later the forth patrol ship of the project 20380 series – the Stoiky corvette – was laid down at Severnaya Verf shipyard, while the head ship of the series – the Steregushchy corvette – started its first sea trial.

Military arts

About ten naval ships are under construction at Saint Petersburg shipyards today. From the beginning of the year both surface ships and submarines have keel-laid in Saint Petersburg. In April, the Makhachkala gunship (the third in the series) project 21630 was laid down at Almaz Shipbuilding Company. In September the shipyard delivered the Astrakhan gunship (the head ship of the series) to the Navy. The Kaspijsk ship is under construction. All these ships are to enter Caspian fleet.

One month later, the Steregushchy corvette (the head ship of Russian Navy) was launched at Severnaya Verf shipyard. The hull of the second ship – the Soobrazitelny ship – has its hull ready with current construction of the       bulkhead. The hull of the third ship of the series – the Boiky ship – is under construction at Severnaya Verf.

With prospects in mind

According to estimations made by Russian Navy the results of today’s work will be seen as early as in 2010. By that time the Saint Petersburg vessel (the head submarine) and two other submarines – the Kronshtadt and the Sevastopol ships – are supposed to be deployed by Russian Navy. According to admiral Vladimir Masorin, Commander-In-Chief of Russian Navy, “we should completely replace our strategic submarines so major resources will be allocated for their construction within nearest five years”. According to Igor Dygalo, Assistant Commander-In-Chief of Russian Navy, today’s shipbuilding demonstrates stable tendencies of the industry development. “It will take several years for submarines of latest generations to replace those operating today,” he says.

Besides, Russian Navy has plans to build a series of 20 modern frigates within 15-20 years. According to Michail Zakharchenko, deputy Commander-In-Chief of Russian Navy, the plan has been approved already. It implies construction of ships, enough for protection of the Far East, South and Baltic regions. Experts say Russian fleet needs about 20 frigates project 22 350: 5 ships for each fleet.

Support from above

Revival of shipbuilding industry is being discussed at the highest levels today. In May of the current year President Putin specified shipbuilding as the priority having noted that today Russia builds all types of war-ships. At the beginning of November Putin said that “firm position” has been preserved in shipbuilding and that the state is interested in absolute implementation of state military program. According to Putin, maximum task of Russia is not just to return lost positions at internal market, but also to ensure competition with foreign companies. The President called for urgent work to formulate a principled policy for creating integrated structures that would be able to carry out a state strategy for developing the shipbuilding industry. “The backlog we have is not enough for competitiveness of Russian shipbuilding,” Putin says.

Chausova Larisa