The National Interest:
Russian Navy officials are claiming that they will complete detailed design work on the new Leader-class nuclear-powered guided missile destroyer by 2022, after which point the vessel will be built.
However, analysts continue to remain skeptical about Russia’s prospects of building the massive new vessels, which have been estimated to displace anywhere from 10,000-tons up to as much as 18,000-tons. Indeed, the Leader-class reportedly does not appear in Russia’s State Armament Plan (GPV) 2020-2017, which suggests that the vessel is very unlikely to be built.
“As for Leader-class destroyer, we plan to launch the development of technical design in 2019-2020. We plan that the technical design of the ship will be ready in around 2022, after which it will be laid down,” Vice Adm. Viktor Bursuk, deputy commander-in-chief for armaments for the Russian Navy, told the state-owned TASS news agency.
