Russian Navy fleet to expand with 80 warships by 2020
The Russian Navy is expected to take delivery of eight missile submarines, 16 multipurpose attack submarines and 54 surface warships, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said.
"Without maintaining the required level of technical readiness of the fleet we can not maintain its combat potential," RBC quoted Shoigu as saying during a conference call in the defense department.
According to the minister, under the three-year contract signed in 2011 with the state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation, the warships, vessels of the Navy will undergo permanent maintenance at the USC shipyards. There is an option for extension of the contract in December 2013.
Earlier, the official had announced a decision to create the headquarters of the Russian Navy task force in the Mediterranean to be deployed in the area on a permanent basis.
"This clearly shows a positive trend in the Navy development," Sergey Shoigu said.
