"Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Korolyov has held a working meeting in St. Petersburg [in northwest Russia] to discuss the construction of the new-generation Project 677 Lada-class diesel-electric submarines Kronstadt and Velikiye Luki," the press office said.
"The construction of the submarines is on schedule," the press office added.
The sections of the first serial-produced submarine Kronstadt have been attached to form the hull and work to assemble pipes, various life support systems, electric installations and the shaft line and put on board masts is currently in progress.
The bow and stern sections of the submarine Velikiye Luki were built and passed hydraulic pressure tests.
"The submarine Kronstadt built by the Admiralty Wharves Shipyard [in St. Petersburg in northwest Russia] and armed with a precision guided weapons system is planned to be launched in 2018. After the outfitting work is completed, the submarine will start to undergo trials," the press office said.
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The Lada-class submarine is a fourth-generation diesel-electric submarine. It has a surface displacement of about 1,750 tons, while the Varshavyanka-class submarine’s surface displacement is 2,300 tons. The Lada-class submarine has an underwater speed of 21 knots.
The Project 677 lead submarine St. Petersburg was laid down in 1997. Since 2010 when it was delivered to the Navy, it has been undergoing operational evaluation. The submarines Kronstadt and Velikiye Luki were laid down in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Their construction was suspended and then resumed only in 2013. They are being built, considering all imperfections revealed during the operation of the lead submarine. As Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Armament Vice-Admiral Viktor Bursuk said earlier, the Navy is planning to order two more Project 677 submarines. According to him, submarines of the class will form the mainstay of Russia’s diesel-electric submarine fleet. |
