Article Posted on : - Jul 03, 2014

A Project 636 Kilo-class sub. An Admiralty Shipyard photo

ST PETERSBURG (BNS): The Admiralty Shipyard of Russia has launched the second of six Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class (improved Kilo class) diesel-electric stealth submarines for the Navy's Black Sea Fleet last month.

The new sub, "Rostov-on-Don", was floated out at the shipyard's St. Petersburg facility on June 26 in the presence of high-ranking government and naval officials.

Construction of "Rostov-on-Don" began in November 2011.

The first submarine of the class, the "Novorossiisk", was laid down in August 2010, and launched in November 2013. It is presently undergoing factory trials before being delivered to the Navy later this year.

The construction of the third vessel, "Stary Oskol", started in August 2012 and it is being readied for launch, the shipbuilder said.

While the fourth platform of the series, "Krasnodar", was laid down in February 2014, construction of the remaining two subs, "Veliky Novgorod" and "Kolpino", is scheduled to begin this October, it said.

An improved variant of the Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines, the Varshavyanka-class subs feature advanced stealth technology, extended combat range, modern inertial navigation system and the ability to strike land, surface and underwater targets.

Each vessel has an underwater speed of 20 knots, a cruising range of 643 kilometers with the ability to patrol for 45 days. It can carry a 52-member crew and will be armed with 18 torpedoes and eight surface-to-air missiles.

The submarines are primarily designed for anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions in relatively shallow waters.

The Russian Navy currently operates 20 diesel-electric submarines and the Black Sea Fleet has only one Kilo-class submarine, the Alrosa, which was inducted in 1990.

According to the Navy, all new six Varshavyanka-class submarines will be deployed at its Novorossiisk naval base by 2016.