Russian Navy to Get 80 Support Ships by 2016

The Russian Navy will receive about 80 support ships within the next three years, the Defense Ministry says on January 6. The Navy High Command said different types and classes of support and auxiliary vessels will help enhance the effectiveness of the Navy’s performance in all areas of responsibility.

These will include tugboats, patrol boats, diving boats, modular search and rescue platforms, and floating cranes, the ministry reports. The ministry said on January 10 the Navy will get over 50 new warships by 2016, including strategic nuclear submarines and special operations support vessels.

Russia is currently in the middle of a huge rearmament program, with $660 billion to be spent on arms procurement by 2020, according to the Defense Ministry.

Adapted from Vestnik Kavkaza