Russia begins construction of new nuclear submarines amid tensions with West
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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday launched the construction of two nuclear submarines armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles along with two diesel-powered submarines and two corvettes amid tensions with the West. Russia is currently modernising its military.
Russian President Putin inaugurated the building of new nuclear submarines and other warships on Monday, as part of a broad military modernization effort amid tensions with the West.
The event, which is a mix of war drills and an arms display, is intended to highlight Russian military weapons and lure foreign buyers.King Abdullah II of Jordan, for example, was among those present.
In a video call with shipyards in Severodvinsk, St. Petersburg, and Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the naval order was announced.
The Sevmash yard on the White Sea today employs over 30,000 people working on nuclear-powered submarines, primarily the Yasen class of new multi-purpose submarines and the Borei class of 4th generation ballistic missile submarines.
After Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea, relations with the West have sunk to post-Cold War lows. The Kremlin has made military modernisation a major priority.
Moscow has attempted to recreate the Soviet Union's regular naval presence in regions of the world that it had during the Cold War.
With a naval station in the Syrian town of Tartus, the Russian Navy already has a significant presence in the Mediterranean Sea.
It has extended and modified the Tartus base, which is Russia's only such installation outside of the former Soviet Union.
(With inputs from agencies)