25.06.2009
Source:
Russia could sell up to 40 fourth-generation diesel-electric submarines to foreign customers by 2015, state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Wednesday.
"Russia's export potential in this market sector is very high thanks to Project 636 and
Amur-1650 class submarines equipped with the
Club-S integrated missile systems,"
Rosoboronexport said in a press release.
The Project 636
Kilo-class submarine is thought to be one of the most silent submarine classes in the world. It has been specifically designed for anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations in relatively shallow waters.
Russia has built
Kilo-class submarines for India, China and Iran.
The Project-677, or
Lada-class, diesel submarine, whose export version is known as the
Amur-1650, features a new anti-sonar coating for its hull, an extended cruising range, and advanced anti-ship and anti-submarine weaponry.
Both submarines are equipped with highly-acclaimed
Club-S integrated missile systems.
The
Club-S submarine cruise missile family includes the 3M-54E1 anti-ship missile and the 3M-14E land-attack versions, with a flight range of 275km (about 170 miles). The missile can be launched from standard torpedo tubes from a depth of 35 to 40 meters (130 feet).
Overall, naval equipment constitutes about 10% of the total portfolio of orders of
Rosoboronexport, which is estimated at about $30 billion.
"By 2010, the share of naval equipment in Russia's arms exports will reach 15%, and by 2011 it will total 20%," said Oleg Azizov, head of
Rosoboronexport's delegation at the
International Naval Show - 2009 in St. Petersburg.
India, China, Algeria, Vietnam and Indonesia remain key buyers of Russia's naval armaments.
India and China have purchased submarines, frigates and destroyers. Vietnam has ordered
Svetlyak-class fast attack boats and frigates, while Indonesia will receive corvettes built in Russia in cooperation with Spanish firms.
