I thought it would be worthwhile to present a translation of an RIA Novosti story about the construction of two new classes of submarines the ballistic-missile-bearing Borei and the hunter-killer Yasen. These two classes are expected to become the standard-bearers of the Russian navy sometime in the next 6-10 years but, as even RIA Novosti notes with an apparent hint of skepticism and derision, have been plagued by repeated delays in their construction and in their eventual delivery to the fleet.