The Northern and Baltic War Fleets will receive fifth-generation diesel-electric submarines. On a very brief note, the deputy commander of the Russian Navy, Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov, confirmed the start of production of conventional class submarines Varshavyanka for the Pacific fleet at the Admiralty Wharves shipyard. The Russian admiralty therefore recognizes the value of the Project 636,3 class Varshavyanka, initially designed to operate only with the Black Sea War Fleet.
The class diesel-electric submarines Varshavyanka represent a key element of the new Russian naval strategy. Dubbed by the US Navy as "Black Holes in the ocean", once immersed they would no longer be identifiable. Propelled by diesel-electric engines with very low noise emissions, they can hit targets at long distances without being detected by enemy antisubmarine radars.
Improved version of the Kilo (the latter below five speed nodes is invisible to passive sonar), implements technology stealth advanced. It has a displacement of 3.100 tons, reaches a speed of 20 knots, can dive up to 300 meters and carry crews of 52 people. Submarines, armed with 18 torpedoes, mines and eight cruise missiles Kalibr 3M54 (NATO SS-N-27 Sizzler), are designed to perform anti-submarine missions in the role hunter killer, in relatively shallow waters.
I Varshavyanka of the Black Sea Fleet
The construction of the first submarine, the 'Novorossiysk' started in August of the 2010, followed by Rostov-on-Don in November 2011, from Stary Oskol in August of 2012 and from the fourth boat, the Krasnodar entered the construction site on February 20th of the 2014. The fifth submarine, the Veliky Novgorod, was launched last March 18.
The 'Novorossiysk' is in service in the Black Sea since the 22 August of the 2014, while the 'Rostov-on-Don' from the 30 December of the 2014. The Stary Oskol has been in service since July of the 2015. The Krasnodar, fourth of the class Varshavyanka, is active since 5 last November. The sixth submarine, the Kolpino (photo), was launched this morning. All six submarines will be operational at the Novorossiysk naval base by the end of the year.
Last December the Rostov-on-Don launched the entire rescue of cruise missiles Kalibr 3M54 embarked against enemy targets near the Syrian city of Raqqa. The Rostov-on-Don it has actually entered the history of the Russian Navy for being the first submarine to launch cruise missiles against real enemy targets.
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
