The Russian Admiralty Shipyards (A member of United Shipbuilding Corporation) launched the third Project 636.3 (NATO: Improved Kilo-class) diesel electric submarine (SSK), Magadan, for the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet on March 26, 2021 in St. Petersburg.
Magadan, the third submarine of the series being built at Admiralty Shipyards for the Pacific Fleet, was laid down on November 1, 2019. The first ship, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, was handed over to the Russian Navy on November 25, 2019. The Volkhov submarine, the second in the series, entered the Pacific Fleet on October 24, 2020. The launch of the fourth Ufa submarine is scheduled for the end of this year.
The contract for the construction of the series was signed in September 2016, which was a continuation of the implementation of the long-term plan of the Russian Ministry of Defense to restore the combat readiness of the country’s Navy and the program to improve diesel-electric submarines.
Overall, the Admiralty Shipyard (part of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation) will build six Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarines for Russia’s Pacific Fleet. The Admiralty Shipyard earlier constructed a series of six Project 636.3 submarines for the Black Sea Fleet. The Russian Navy Command is also considering building Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarines for the Baltic Fleet.
Project 636.3 submarines ‘Magadan’
Project 636.3 submarines (NATO reporting name: Improved Kilo-II) are 74 meters long and displace more than 3,900 tonnes. Due to its strong hull, the submarine has an operational depth of 240 meters and can dive to a maximum depth of 300 meters. Ship has an operational range of 400 miles when submerged and up to 7,500 miles with 7 knots speed. They are armed with Kalibr-PL cruise missiles that are launched from torpedo tubes from the sub’s submerged position.
Project 636 submarines are considered among the world’s most noiseless submarines. They can develop a speed of up to 20 knots, have their sea endurance of 45 days, and a crew of 52 men.
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