MOSCOW, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia has launched the production of new aircraft carriers, said Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Vysotsky Friday.

    "The Navy continues the construction of new strategic missile cruisers, multi-purpose submarines, frigates, corvettes, amphibious ships, trawlers, warfare vessels and service boats," Vysotsky was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying in an interview on the eve of Russia's Navy Day.

    "The fleet will have more powerful ships in the future: state-of-the-art multi-purpose mine-carriers and aircraft carriers. The relevant works have already begun," he said.

    Vysotsky said earlier that it is necessary for the Russian Navyto have five to six aircraft carriers in its Pacific and Northern fleets.