Russia has begun working on its next aircraft carrier which is to be powered by nuclear energy, a source from the country's defense ministry said Wednesday.
"The Statement Of Objectives (SOO) on the new aircraft carrier is now being created and has not yet been sent to the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC)," the source told TASS.
"The Defense Ministry and the Russian Navy Main Staff share the opinion that the new aircraft carrier should be nuclear-powered," the source from the defense ministry added.
A source in Russia’s shipbuilding industry had mentioned earlier that scientific and research work to design the country's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier would begin in 2023.
"The company is more than ready to build such a vessel. The project can be completed in 15 years time," USC President Alexei Rakhmanov had said.
TASS was unable to officially confirm the information at the time of the publication.