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Russia to Build 6 New Nuclear Submarines

Russian navy beefing up nuclear capacity with cruise missile-equipped subs

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 28, 2009 7:15 AM CDT

(Newser) – Russia is building at least six new nuclear submarines equipped with long-distance cruise missiles, according to state-connected news agency Itar-Tass. One is expected to be on line by 2011, the rest by 2017. A Russian defense ministry source say the missiles, capable of carrying low-capacity nuclear warheads, "would be designed for strikes on aircraft carriers of the enemy" as well as land targets.

"Despite the construction of a new nuclear submarine with new missiles, Russia intends to observe firmly international arms control agreements on equal terms with other countries," the source adds. Russia has said boosting its nuclear arsenal is necessary to counter a massive NATO advantage in conventional weapons.

A Russian Shchuk class nuclear submarine heads towards  Brest harbor, western France, after a series of exercises in the Atlantic with French navy ships, in this Tuesday Sept. 21, 2004, file photo.
A Russian Shchuk class nuclear submarine heads towards Brest harbor, western France, after a series of exercises in the Atlantic with French navy ships, in this Tuesday Sept. 21, 2004, file photo.   (AP Photo/Franck Prevel, File)
One of Russia's Shchuka class nuclear submarines moored at a harbor on the Pacific peninsula of Kamchatka, in this Saturday, July 29, 2007 file photo.
One of Russia's Shchuka class nuclear submarines moored at a harbor on the Pacific peninsula of Kamchatka, in this Saturday, July 29, 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo, file)
Aging Russian submarines are moored before being decommissioned at a naval base  in this file photo.
Aging Russian submarines are moored before being decommissioned at a naval base in this file photo.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Robert_Dada
Mar 28, 2009 7:53 AM CDT
Here we go again - more proliferation.

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