Russia's Admiralty Shipyards to Sign Deal on Two Lada-Class Subs Constuction

© Photo : Admiralty ShipyardsThe Amur 1650 fourth-generation diesel submarine, a Lada-class vessel featuring improved acoustic stealth, improved weapons systems and an optional air-independent propulsion system.
The Amur 1650 fourth-generation diesel submarine, a Lada-class vessel featuring improved acoustic stealth, improved weapons systems and an optional air-independent propulsion system. - Sputnik International
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The Admiralty Shipyards, a part of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation, is expecting to sign contracts on building two non-nuclear Lada-class (Project 677) submarines in 2018, the company’s CEO, Alexander Buzakov, said in an interview with Sputnik.

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) — The lead vessel of the Project 677, the Sankt Peterburg, is on a trial run with the Northern Fleet, while two others, the Kronstadt and the Velikie Luki, are being built.

"We are expecting the [next two vessels] to appear in the State Armaments Program and to be able to sign contracts on these two submarines in the next year," Buzakov said.

"The arguments over what engine should be installed will soon stop, I think. It will be either a diesel-electric system or air-independent propulsion, provided that this system has passed the tests. Only then will the fleet and the Ministry of Defense make the decision on the construction of next submarines. At the moment, the process is ongoing, our project engineers, Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering 'Rubin,' are working on this," Buzakov said.

The Admiralteiskiye verfi company in St Petersburg. (File) - Sputnik International
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Buzakov added that air-independent propulsion will not be tested on Project 677 submarines, the Kronstadt and the Velikie Luki, or the next two vessels.

"They definitely will not have air-independent propulsion. That may be tested on some of the next vessels of this project," the company's CEO said.

Project 677 submarines are about 220 feet long, 23 feet wide, and can submerge to the depth of 985 feet. They are equipped with six torpedo tubes and carry a crew of 35 people. These submarines' top submerged speed is 21 knots.

The chief advantage of the air-independent propulsion is increased stealth capability. A submarine equipped with this system may stay underwater without having to go up to recharge batteries. The air-independent propulsion power plant developed in Russia is different from similar foreign systems in that the hydrogen is produced by reforming of diesel fuel.

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