Russia will deploy two Borei class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines with the country’s Pacific fleet, First Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Sukhorukov said on Wednesday.

Yury Dolgoruky – the lead vessel – and the Alexander Nevsky are currently undergoing test runs but and are likely to be commissioned by year’s end. Sukhorukov, first Deputy Defense Minister, maintained that while the two subs will initially be placed with the Northern Fleet, he remains positive that they will ultimately be redeployed to the Pacific fleet.