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Naval
Defense Industry News - Russia, Algeria |
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| Algeria
looking to procure two additional Improved Kilo Project 636M Diesel Submarines
from Russia |
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Algeria may order two additional diesel electric submarines of project
636M considered one of the best selling products of the Russian defense
industry from Russia. A source in the Russian Defense Ministry reported
that Rosoboronexport received an application from Algeria for purchase
of two diesel electric submarines of project 636M (Kilo according to
NATO classification).
A source close to the special exporter of Russian armament confirmed
this. According to one of the sources, in August the Ministry of Industry
and Trade chose Admiralty Shipyards (a part of USC) as contractor for
the order according to proposal of the Federal Service for Military
Technological Cooperation. The source explained, "The decision
of Algeria to buy additional submarines from Russia is evidently connected
with growth of tension in the region with regard to events of the "Arab
spring." The source explained that the contractor for the order
was chosen "in accordance with wishes of the customer country."
In 2020, Admiralty Shipyards supplied two submarines of project 636
to Algeria in the framework of fulfillment of the contract of 2006 (its
value amounted to about $600 million). The sources did not disclose
the value of the new contract. |
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Project 636 Improved Kilo class submarines, featuring advanced “stealth”
technology, extended combat range and ability to strike land, surface
and underwater targets
(picture: Internet)
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Kilo class submarine was designed by central maritime
design bureau Rubin. It is considered one of the most silent diesel
submarine in the world. Its length amounts to 73.8 meters, width amounts
to 9.9 meters and displacement amounts to 2,350 cubic meters. Underwater
speed amounts to 20 knots, the maximal submersion depth amounts to 300
meters. The crew consists of 52 people. The submarine is armed with
four missiles (the quantity may be increased), 18 torpedoes and 24 mines.
Project 636 represents a modernized submarine of project 877EKM Varshavyanka
supplied to seven countries including Algeria between the 1980s and
1990s. Two submarines of project 877EK were built for Algeria at Admiralty
Shipyards in the 1980s. In 2005, Admiralty Shipyards together with Rubin
design bureau signed a contract on repair of these two submarines and
in 2006 Algeria decided to buy two new submarines. Thus, in case of
signing of a new contract the navy of Algeria will have six submarines
made in Russia.
One of the sources says that signing of a firm contract is expected
in 2013. A source close to Rosoboronexport does not rule out that its
signing may be postponed because of disputes about the candidacy of
the contractor. The source adds, "USC is currently struggling for
revision of the resolution of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The
corporation counts on reception of the status of the only supplier of
submarines of project 636 in the framework of the Algerian contract
and to use Admiralty Shipyard for its fulfillment." Earlier, USC
tried to achieve granting of a status of a subject of military technological
cooperation with a right of "foreign trade activity related to
military products."
Representatives of USC could not answer the question if this practice
would be applicable to other export contracts. Press secretary of the
corporation Alexei Kravchenko refused to comment. A source in the shipbuilding
industry presumed that this entire store could be connected with plans
of USC "to build internal cooperation."
Sergei Karabaev, managing partner of lawyer bureau Karabaev and Partners,
presumes that USC has good changes to receive status of contractor for
the export order. Karabaev adds, "There is a legal loophole: it
is sufficient for USC to obtain a license of Rosoboronzakaz that says
that the corporation is producer of military products. Then USC will
be able to hire Admiralty Shipyards for fulfillment of the export order
in the framework of cooperation." However, in this case USC will
have either to buy or to rent production facilities because this is
one of the terms for issue of a license. The expert concludes that air
defense corporation Almaz-Antey has been working on the market of military
technological cooperation in this way for many years.
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