The Borei class of nuclear ballistic missile submarines represents an important symbol for Russian shipbuilding, and for the Russian arms industry as a whole. Indeed, it is the first representative of post-Soviet Russian strategic doctrine. Until the entry into service of the first Borei submarine in 2013, the Russian Navy's SSBN fleet consisted only of Delta III and Delta IV submarines, as well as a few Typhoon, all from the Soviet era.
Last year, General Gerasimov announced the start of design work on the Borei-B, an improved version of the Borei-A class, itself an evolution of the Borei class. It is this last study which is canceled and replaced by the order of 6 additional Borei-A submarines, to ultimately reach a fleet of 11 Boreï-A and 3 Boreï.
The announcement also comes as the Russian Defense Ministry released a video showing a shot of 4 Boulava missiles, the missiles which equip the Borei and which experienced numerous difficulties in development. Each Borei carries 16 nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles with an estimated range of over 9000 km. Russian forces have a nuclear deterrent with 3 components:
- There ground component equipped with ballistic missiles of different ranges such as the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM or the short-range Iskander missile
- There naval component based on its 14 SSBNs but also on the SSGN Oscar 2
- There air component operating long-range bombers Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 and more recently Mig-31 equipped with the Kinzhal nuclear-capable hypersonic missile.
The latest statements from the Russian authorities reveal a significant effort to maintain a leading strategic force, capable of opposing or even surpassing American forces, in number and technology.