29.08.2012
Text:
Photo: Project 636
Varshavyanka diesel-electric submarine.
The vessel under serial number 01339 will become the first-ever submarine within Vietnamese Navy.
Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam decided to establish submarine force as a new naval branch in order to strengthen the country's maritime borders.
Russia was selected manufacturer of Project 636M diesel-electric submarines, armament, and education/maintenance facilities.
In Dec 2009, Prime minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung declared that the $1.8-bln contract for six
Improved Kilo-class submarines had been signed with Russia.
The lead sub was laid down at
Admiralteyskie Verfi in the summer of 2010. By now, the shipyard is constructing four hulls under the Vietnam's order.
Improved Kilo is a class of third-generation submarines. Project 636M was developed by
Rubin Design Bureau (St. Petersburg); it is an improved variant of so-called
Varshavyanka, diesel submarines of Project 877
Paltus which were built in large lot since early 80's for Soviet Navy and exported to 7 countries. As of 2012, about seventy Project 877/636 submarines have been constructed, are currently under construction or ordered.
Length of an
Improved Kilo-class submarine is about 74 meters, beam is almost 10 meters, submerged displacement is 3,100 tons, test depth is 300 meters, submerged speed is up to 20 knots, and endurance is 45 days.
Armament of Project 636M submarines includes six 533-mm torpedo tubes with overall load of 18 torpedoes and missiles or 24 mines. Vietnamese variant is equipped with long-range missile system
Club-S capable to engage both sea surface and coastal targets.
As is planned, the launched submarine after passing all trials would be delivered to Vietnamese Navy in 2012.
Overall contract is going to be completed by the end of 2016.
