SEVERODVINSK (Realist English). President Vladimir Putin chaired a strategy session on the development of Russia’s submarine forces during a working visit to the Arkhangelsk region on July 24, underscoring their critical role in ensuring national security and maintaining global strategic balance.
Opening the meeting with condolences for victims of a civil aviation crash in the Amur region, the President then turned to the future of the country’s naval power:
“We will evaluate what has been achieved in recent years and identify priorities that must guide our efforts going forward,” Putin said. “The submarine fleet plays a key role in safeguarding Russia’s sovereignty and contributes to regional and global stability.”
Putin highlighted the following developments:
- Five Borei-A strategic submarines and four Yasen-M multipurpose submarines have been added to the Navy in the past six years.
- Four more Borei-A-class nuclear submarines armed with Bulava ballistic missiles are set to enter service in the coming years. Two are already under construction.
- Yasen-M-class submarines, equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles and the new Tsirkon hypersonic missile system, remain the backbone of Russia’s conventional naval strike capability. Four are currently being built at the Sevmash shipyard, with plans for two more.
- The K-571 Perm, launched in March, is the first Yasen-M submarine outfitted with Tsirkon missiles.
In addition, Putin stressed the importance of non-nuclear Project 677 submarines, noting that the lead ship Kronshtadt was accepted into the Navy in 2024. A total of nine are planned.
“We must ensure a steady serial production of these vessels,” he said, calling for updates on the implementation of the fifth-generation strategic submarine program, approved last year.
The President also emphasized future priorities, particularly in the field of multi-functional underwater robotic systems.
“These advanced systems will shape the future of the Navy. Our task is to maintain technological superiority in this domain,” Putin concluded.
The meeting reaffirmed Russia’s long-term commitment to strengthening its sea-based nuclear deterrent and modernizing its underwater warfare capabilities through innovation and domestic shipbuilding.