A solemn ceremony of launching a new diesel-electric submarine Velikiye Luki of project 677 Lada took place in St. Petersburg.
Information about this is available on the website of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC).
“A solemn ceremony of launching the submarine Velikie Luki took place at the Admiralty Shipyards.
This submarine was laid down according to the finalized technical project 677. The ship was named “Large submarine B-587 Velikie Luki in honor of the city of Russian military glory Velikie Luki,” the company’s press release says.
Commenting on the launch of the new ship, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Viktor Evtukhov noted that this submarine represents a new generation of non-nuclear submarines.
“Today, the submarines of this project are recognized as the most modern diesel-electric boats designed for the Russian Navy.
Deeply modernized equipment samples are installed on the ship: a control system for ship technical means, an electric propulsion system, a navigation complex, ”Yevtukhov is quoted on the USC website.
Recall that the ships of the 677th series belong to the fourth generation of non-nuclear submarines.
The development of these vessels is carried out by the Rubin Central Design Bureau MT (part of the USC).
"Work out promising systems"
Submarines of the Lada project are designed to conduct independent operations against submarines, ships and ground targets of the enemy, as well as anti-submarine defense in coastal areas, setting minefields and performing other tasks, according to the website of the Admiralty Shipyards.
Submarine "Velikiye Luki" launched
© USC Press Service
The developers note that Project 677 submarines "can be operated in any area of the World Ocean (except for areas with continuous ice cover) in any weather conditions, in shallow and deep water areas."
The operating depth of the Lada is 250 m, the autonomy of navigation is 45 days, the range in a submerged position at a speed of 3 knots (5.6 km / h) is 650 nautical miles (about 1.2 thousand km).
The crew of the submarine consists of 35 people.
The submarine can reach speeds of 21 knots (about 39 km/h).
Ladas are equipped with six 533 mm torpedo tubes, through which both torpedoes and Caliber cruise missiles can be launched.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the distinguishing features of Project 677 submarines compared to the previous generation submarines “are the ability to conduct salvo rocket fire at sea targets, improved characteristics of electronic weapons, the presence of an integrated automated control system for the ship” and its combat means, as well as the presence of a new sonar a complex capable of detecting low-noise targets at long distances.
It is worth noting that the Ladas were developed to replace the Project 877 Halibut submarines, created in the USSR in the late 1970s.
At the same time, Halibut received another development in the form of submarines of projects 636 (designed for export) and 636.3 (created for the Russian Navy).
They belong to the submarines of the third generation.
At the moment, the Russian submarine fleet is replenished mainly with submarines of the 636.3 series - at least ten units have already been commissioned.
Submarine project 636.3 "Volkhov"
© USC Press Service
At the same time, according to experts, project 677 is actively developing and has good prospects.
In addition to the lead submarine "St. Petersburg", handed over to the fleet for trial operation in 2010, the creation of the ship "Kronstadt" is now at the final stage.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that at the end of December this year, its state tests will begin.
In addition, in 2019, JSC Admiralty Shipyards signed a contract with the RF Ministry of Defense for the construction of two more Project 677 submarines.
As Alexei Rakhmanov, General Director of USC, noted in an interview with RIA Novosti, in comparison with project 636.3, “the boats of project 677 Lada have better combat characteristics and are an innovative product.”
“But in the case of Lada, it is necessary to work out promising systems in order not to get long-term construction and, accordingly, losses.
Systems are being fine-tuned on the lead boat St. Petersburg," Rakhmanov explained.
"Protection of base areas"
According to analysts, at the moment both Project 636.3 submarines and Series 677 submarines are in demand in the Russian Navy.
“Both projects are in demand by the Russian fleet.
Project 636.3 has proven itself well.
It is the carrier of the Caliber cruise missiles, and its operation has been established, ”Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, said in an interview with RT.
Submarine "Kronstadt"
© USC Press Service
At the same time, according to the founder of the MilitaryRussia portal Dmitry Kornev, submarines of the 677 type are still technically more advanced than the 636.3 project.
“677 is an absolutely modern project, and 636.3 is a deep modernization of the 877 Halibut project.
Boats of the 877th series have already been mastered by the domestic industry in recent years.
When creating project 636, they were updated, adapted to modern requirements and new equipment, ”the expert emphasized.
One of the shortcomings of the submarines of projects 677 and 636.3 Dmitry Kornev considers the lack of an anaerobic air-independent installation, which allows new generation submarines to stay submerged for much longer.
However, as noted on the USC website, specialists from the Central Design Bureau of MT Rubin are already working on the creation of such an installation, and in the future it is planned to equip submarines of the Lada project with these units.
Dmitry Kornev believes that in the future the Russian military leadership will still give priority to project 677.
“The Lada had some problems due to the fact that these ships were quite difficult to approach the fleet.
Now these difficulties have been overcome, the boat is being mass-produced, but the pace of its production is still insufficient.
This is most likely due to the fact that the shipbuilding industry in recent years has been loaded with boats of the previous generation - 636.3.
As soon as the 636.3 series is completed, then, most likely, the 677 project will replace it.
Because technically these are more advanced ships, ”the analyst said in an interview with RT.
As Dmitry Kornev notes, the main task of Lada-class submarines is "to protect the areas where strategic nuclear submarines are based."
Among the advantages of the vessels of this series, he highlights their low noise.
"Lada", of course, is a continuation of Soviet projects.
But architecturally, the 677th series is more perfect and quiet.
This submarine has a large modernization stock for the future.
So the potential of the project is serious.
It is possible that in the future the Lada may become one of the most massive submarines in the Russian Navy, ”concluded the analyst.