Russian Navy to Expand Fleet with New Submarine

The Russian Navy will soon commission the first in the series of six Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines.

RIA Novosti quoted Russian Navy Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo as saying: “On August 22, St. Andrew’s flag of the Russian Navy will be raised on diesel-electric submarine Novorossiisk at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.”

Construction of the Novorossiisk submarine, which is currently undergoing second testing phase in the Baltic Sea, started in August 2010.

Built for the Crimea-based Black Sea Fleet, the improved variant of the Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines, the Varshavyanka-class submarines feature advanced stealth technology, extended combat range, modern inertial navigation system and the ability to strike land, surface and underwater targets.

These submarines are armed with 18 torpedoes and eight surface-to-air, have an underwater speed of 20 knots, a cruising range of 400 miles (electric propulsion), the ability to patrol for 45 days and can accommodate a crew of 52 submariners.