The Russian Navy has inducted its third Borei-class (Project 955) ballistic-missile nuclear submarine Vladimir Monomakh into service at the Sevmash shipyard, Severodvinsk.

The vessel is now set to depart from the naval base in Severodvinsk to join the 25th Submarine Division of the navy’s Pacific Fleet in Russia’s Far East, Sputnik reported.

"Russia is planning to build eight Borei and Borei-A class submarines by 2020."

Vladimir Monomakh is powered by an OK-650 nuclear reactor, AEU steam turbine and shaft and propeller, and can cruise at maximum speed of 29k, while accommodating 107 crew members.

The 170m-long vessel is also armed with 16 Bulava ballistic missiles and features advanced acoustic signature reduction techniques.

Borei-class vessels, which are expected to form the core of the Russia’s strategic submarine fleet, will replace the existing Project 941 (NATO Typhoon class) and Project 667 class (Delta-3 and Delta-4) submarines.

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Russia is planning to build eight Borei and Borei-A class submarines by 2020.

The navy commissioned the first two, Yury Dolgoruky and Alexander Nevsky, in January and December 2013 respectively.

Construction is currently underway on the fourth and fifth submarines, Knyaz Vladimir and Knyaz Oleg, at the Sevmash shipyard.

Work is set to start on Knyaz Suvorov, the sixth Borei-class submarine, on 26 December.