Reasons Why Russia’s Emerging Borei-Class Submarine Fleet is a Fearsome Nuclear Weapon at Vladimir Putin’s Disposal

Russia plans to commission eight Borei-class submarines that will be at the disposal of President Vladimir Putin by 2020. The Kremlin characterises the subs as "the backbone of Russia's naval strategic forces for the coming decades."

The Borei subs, also known as Dolgorukiy-class, is being advertised by Moscow as a strategic nuclear deterrent, according to a report by ITAR-TASS news agency, in the same manner that Putin had described the 80 plus intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) that his country will acquire by 2015 as potent weapons against aggressions directed to Russia.

Yet as specs of the Vladimir Monomakh, the third of the Borei subs to join the Russian navy since last year, were revealed last week, it became clear that Putin is adding another war tool that will give him significant edge in engaging the United States and the West into a shooting war.

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