Russian Navy launches final Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarine

Kolpino, the last of six Russian Navy Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarines built for the Black Sea Fleet, is set to be launched in Saint Petersburg today, May 31.

Russian shipbuilder Admiralty Shipyards is in charge of delivering the submarines.

Novorossiysk, the lead submarine of the project, joined the Black Sea Fleet in August 2014 with the Rostov-on-Don following suit in December.

The next two submarines, Stary Oskol and Krasnodar, were delivered to RF Navy in July and November 2015 while the Veliky Novgorod was launched March 18, 2016.

Kilo-class submarines from the 636.3 project are armed with 18 torpedoes and eight surface-to-air missiles. The navy says they displace 2.000 tonnes and can reach underwater speeds of 20 knots. The cruising range, under electric propulsion is 400 miles. The vessels can accommodate a crew of 52 submariners and can stay at sea for 45 days.

The submarines are also equipped with Kalibr-cruise missiles. Last year, the Russian Navy said the Rostov-on-Don successfully fired the missiles from a submerged position in the Mediterranean Sea hitting two objectives in Syrian Raqqa province on December 8.