On 17 August, Russian news agencies reported that Admiralty will build a proyekt 636 diesel-electric submarine for the Black Sea Fleet (BSF). The keel-laying was scheduled for 20 August. Navy CINC Admiral Vladimir Vysotskiy says, in all, three proyekt 636 submarines will be laid down for the BSF before year’s end.
Krasnaya zvezda writes that, although Admiralty has produced export submarines since 1983, Novorossiysk will be its first proyekt 636 for the Russian Navy.
Ocean TV reports Novorossiysk will be complete in 2013, and the other two in 2014.
The Rubin Central Design Bureau of Naval Technology has made changes in the construction of systems and equipment of the proyekt 636 for its use in the Russian Navy. RIA Novosti said the new BSF submarines will be armed with the Klab-S antiship cruise missiles.
The Navy Main Staff calls Novorossiysk the start of its long-term plan to restore the BSF’s combat readiness. The fleet is also slated to receive the Sevastopol, the third unit of new fourth generation proyekt 677 submarines. According to Krasnaya zvezda, the transfer of Baltic Fleet Neustrashimyy and Yaroslav Mudryy frigates to the BSF is still being worked, and could take place in the next year.
A related aside . . . it’s been almost four months and there’s no mention of the BSF basing report that, on 1 May, President Medvedev ordered Defense Minister Serdyukov to present in a month.
Russian Defense Policy 