State submarine-building program may fail – source in defense industry

07.04.2011 Execution of State Arms Program 2011-2020 as related to construction of diesel electric submarines for Russian Navy can be frustrated because Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard is heavily workloaded, reported RIA Novosti on Wednesday referring to a high-ranking source in Russian defense industry.

According to open sources, new State Arms Program 2011-2020 provides construction of up to 20 diesel electric submarines for Russian Navy and up to 10 – for export. Meanwhile, none of previous state arms programs adopted before was fully accomplished, in many ways due to lack of advanced shipbuilding capacities.

"Keeping in mind large volume of new submarines being constructed for Russian Navy and export, it is necessary to diversify the process by using capacities of Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard (Nizhny Novgorod) or Amur Shipyard (Komsomolsk-on-Amur). Otherwise, state submarine-building program may fail", said the interviewee.

Virtually, Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard has become a monopolist in conventional submarine production, underlined the source. However, in Soviet time prime manufacturer of diesel subs was just Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard.

Besides, in case the contract for construction of Mistral class assault landing ships in Russia is signed, Admiralteyskie Verfi can be chosen the order executor, pointed out the interviewee. To implement this contract, the company even plans to construct new yards in Kronshtadt.

"Obviously, this project will draw the greatest attention of the shipyard's leadership and involve basic facilities and staff", said the representative of defense industry.

Therefore, while realization of the State Arms Program 2011-2020 it would be reasonable to transmit part of orders to other shipyards which are still capable to execute them, concluded the interviewee.

According to director of the World Arms Trade Analytic Center Igor Korotchenko, Krasnoye Sormovo could be a backup shipyard for non-nuclear submarine building if Admiralteyskie Verfi becomes unable to serve new export contracts. He reminded that currently Admiralteyskie Verfi has contracts for 11 subs (5 for Russian Navy and 6 for Vietnam).

"In case new submarine-building contracts with Venezuela and Indonesia are signed, deficiency of slipway places would become apparent. Then the alternate yard may be needed", said Korotchenko.

At the time of the USSR and after its collapse, Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard had built 280 submarines including 25 conventional ones. The last sub was built in 2005 for Chinese Navy. On the other hand, the plant is all-Russian monopolist in torpedo tube production. Krasnoye Sormovo delivers torpedo tubes and hoisting units for all types of diesel and nuclear-powered submarines built in Russia.