The "Varshavyanka" class diesel-electric submarines within the next two years will equip the Black Sea War Fleet. These submarines represent a key element of Russia's naval strategy in the Mediterranean, where Moscow has recently formed a permanent task force consisting of ten ships of surface.
The construction of the first submarine, the 'Novorossiysk' started in August of the 2010, followed by the "Rostov Na Donu" in November 2011, the "Stary Oskol" in August of the 2012 and the fourth boat, the "Krasnodar" , last February 20th. Just the 'Novorossiysk' is in service since 22 last August.
The Black Sea Fleet did not receive new submarines from 23 years and operated only with 'L'Alrosa', a 'Kilo' class boat entered into service in the 1990.
The Russian submarines nicknamed by the US Navy as "Black Holes in the Ocean / Black Holes in the Ocean", once immersed, would no longer be identifiable.
The "Varshavyanka" classes (Project 636m) are propelled by diesel-electric engines with very low noise emissions and can hit targets at long distances without being detected by enemy antisubmarine radars.
The "Varshavyanka" class is an improved version of the "Kilo" (the latter below five knots is invisible to passive sonar), with advanced stealth technology. 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.
The submarines, armed with 18 torpedoes, mines and eight "Kalibr 3M54" cruise missiles (NATO SS-N-27 Sizzler), will carry out anti-submarine missions (Hunter Killer) in relatively shallow waters.
All six submarines will be deployed at the Novorossiysk naval base by the 2016.
Franco Iacch
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
