Russia plans to build new sophisticated warships, nuclear–powered submarines, missile frigates and corvettes under its navy modernisation programme.

In the coming months, the Zelendolsk shipyard in Tatarstan will build five multipurpose surface warships, which will be part of the Russian Caspian flotilla, the shipyard spokesman Sergei Lazarev said.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet is also under a modernisation process, with 15 sophisticated surface warships and diesel submarines due to be supplied before the end of 2020, according to Voice of Russia.

Russia has plans to lay down three missile frigates in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad by the end of 2010, and to jointly create an advanced aircraft carrier with Ukraine.

A total of six Severodvinsk nuclear-powered submarines will also be launched from the Sevmash shipyard in the coming months.