MOSCOW, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Russia's Defense Ministry, contradicting an earlier ministry source, said the country would not build any new aircraft carriers in the foreseeable future.
"No, there are no such plans," Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said Friday in response to comments made earlier in the day by an unnamed Defense Ministry source who said Russia would begin building new aircraft carriers, RIA Novosti reported.
"Four aircraft carriers are needed to ensure the navy's effective operation. The Defense Ministry will not abandon the idea of building such warships," the source said. "Before 2020, Russia will start the construction of a series of aircraft carriers -- up to four in all."
The advanced carriers would have been nuclear powered with displacement of 50,000 to 60,000 tons, naval experts said.
