A keel-laying ceremony for the nuclear-powered submarine "Prince Vladimir" (Knyaz Vladimir) was held at Severodvinsk-based Sevmash Shipyard. The ceremony was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the presidential administration press office said.
The SSBN Prince Vladimir is the lead ship of a series of upgraded Borei-A class submarines, which will be armed with the Bulava ballistic missile system.
Sevmash is the only shipyard in Russia, specializing in the construction of nuclear-powered submarines. Throughout its history, the shipbuilding company constructed for the Russian Navy 128 nuclear submarines.