MOSCOW. Aug 25 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia's intention to stop building large submarines any longer will not affect the national defense, Vice Admiral Valery Dorogin, a member of the State Duma lower house of parliament, said on Monday.
"Such submarines are an archaism that will soon become a part of the past, their creation requires enormous expenses for both design and construction," Dorogin told Ekho Moskvy radio, commenting on Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Kuroyedov's statement that Russia will concentrate on building small multipurpose nuclear-powered submarines with a displacement of 12,000 tonnes.
"Submarines displacing 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes are optimal and the most convenient for operation and housing of mechanisms," Dorogin said.
At the same time, the lawmaker stressed that it is expedient to continue building strategic nuclear submarines, because the service life of those in service with the Russian Navy is about it expire.
Kuroyedov announced Russia's plans to stop building large nuclear submarines with a displacement of 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes earlier on Monday. He is in charge of a command post exercise that is underway in the Far East and Pacific Ocean.