A series of new research ships will be built before the end of 2021 to replace the Russian Navy's largest oceanographic research ship, the Admiral Vladimirsky, TASS reported, citing Sergei Travin, the head of the Defense Ministry's Directorate of Navigation and Oceanography.

"The shipbuilding program approved by the president includes these research vessels to be built in place of this ship for research in the Arctic, Antarctic and other oceans," Travin said.

"I think the program will be completed by 2020 or 2021. Each fleet will receive four ships, and two ice-class vessels will be built for the north and the Far East," he added, answering journalists' questions about construction and the number of ships.

According to Travin, the new ships will have the latest equipment.

The Admiral Vladimirsky was built in 1975 in Poland. In total, the Russian Navy's hydrographic service has 149 boats and ships of various types.