A Russian diesel-electric submarine Krasnodar sails upon its arrival afer taking part in the fight against Islamic State in Syria, in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, Crimea, August 9, 2017. (REUTERS PHOTO)

MOSCOW, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia has floated out its first Borei-A-class strategic missile-carrying, nuclear-powered submarine Prince Vladimir, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday.

The new submarine will enter into all the regular stages of factory and state tests, it said in a statement.

The Prince Vladimir will be commissioned next year, Admiral Vladimir Korolev, commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, was quoted as saying at the floating-out ceremony by local news agencies.

Work continues on four more Borei-A-class nuclear submarines armed with ballistic missiles -- Prince Oleg, Generalissimo Suvorov, Emperor Alexander III and Prince Pozharsky.

These submarines are expected to form the basis of Russia's naval strategic nuclear force.0 Borei-A-class submarines, capable of carrying up to 16 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles each, are an upgraded version of previous Borei-class vessels.

Three Borei-class submarines have been built so far. The Yuri Dolgoruky submarine is serving the Northern Fleet, while the other two -- Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh -- are with the Pacific Fleet.

Earlier this month, Chief of Russia's General Staff Valery Gerasimov said work had started to develop a Borei-B-class nuclear submarine with improved characteristics, but did not give details.