New Borey-class SSBN Yuriy Dolgorukiy on Sea Trials
According to Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Vysotskiy, the slight delay in the laydown of the 4th Borey SSBN unit came from “technological causes” unconnected with the problems of the developmental Bulava SLBM. Vysotskiy also denied that there were any financing problems behind the postponement. He said, “All preparatory work for the laydown was complete.” The laydown was moved from 22 December to sometime in the first quarter of 2010. Sevmash shipyard officials in Severodvinsk report that they weren’t told any more than that. However, Vladimir Yevseyev of IMEMO told Gazeta.ru the delay in the next Borey is connected with the unsuccessful test launches of Bulava. Yevseyev said, “There really is a connection with the postponement of the laydown. The perspectives are unclear, two boats out, one building, but no missiles. It’s only possible to put Bulava on boats of this class, therefore after the last unsuccessful launch they decided to wait it out, it’d be strange to spend so much money and lay down a boat without missiles.”
