Previous reports about progress in construction of the lead submarine of the Borey class, Yuri Dolgorukiy, mentioned that it "will be ready by 2006", which, at least in theory, allowed for the submarine to be launched in 2005. it looks like these estimates were too optimistic - a recent report from the Sevmash plant, although quite upbeat, strongly indicates that the work will not be completed in 2005.

The delay with submarine construction, however, is hardly a show-stopper - even if it were completed earlier, the submarine would have to wait for the Bulava missile, which is yet to being its test flights.