MOSCOW. Jan 19 (Interfax-AVN) - Currently available special facilities allow up to 20 decommissioned SSNs to be cannibalized annually, Deputy Atomic Energy Minister Sergei Antipov told Interfax-Military News Agency Monday.
"In recent years the pace of SSN cannibalization has risen three to four times. Today we can easily defuel and cannibalize 15 to 17 SSNs a year, while all Russian currently available cannibalization facilities can do up to 20 subs a year," he said.
He added, though, that SSN cannibalization should not be a matter of numbers. "The first things to do are safety precautions and optimal timing," he said.
Antipov said that even at a rate of 15 to 17 nuclear subs a year, the Navy would have all decommissioned subs cannibalized by 2009-2010.
He recalled that until 1998 no more than three to four submarines had been cannibalized annually in Russia. In May 1998 the Atomic Energy Ministry was governmentally appointed head contractor of cannibalization of nuclear-powered surface warships and submarines.
According to Antipov, 99 SSNs still want cannibalization. As of 2004 94 Russian nuclear-powered subs had been cannibalized of 193 decommissioned.
"The budget for 2004 allocates about RUB2bn (USD69.5m) for the cannibalization of SSNs and rehabilitation of radiation- damaged sites and areas," Antipov said.