Russian Navy will get six Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarines, improved Kilo-class by 2024. This information has been reported by Tass. Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai confirmed this news.
According to Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai, submarines of this type feature excellent stealth capabilities and are armed with precision-guided weapons to effectively accomplish missions.
According to Naval News, Improved Kilo-class submarines are referred to as the third generation of large diesel-electric submarines, which were built at the JSC Admiralty Shipyards for the Russian Navy’s main fleets. Originally, these submarines are called Project 636.3, in Western countries, they are defined as Improved Kilo-class, which are the upgraded version of Project 877 (Kilo-class) subs.
The improved Kilo-class submarines are designed to conduct anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions in shallow waters and feature stealth technology with extended combat range to strike land, surface, and underwater targets.
According to Russia, the Project 636.3 submarines are among the world’s quietest submarines. It is 74 meters long, has a displacement of over 3,900 tonnes, and has an operational depth of 240 meters. It can operate at a maximum depth of 300 meters and has a range of 7,500 nautical miles.
The submarines have a cruising speed of 20 knots, a range of 400 nautical miles using electronic propulsion, can patrol for 45 days, and can accommodate a crew of 52. They are equipped with 6×533 mm torpedo tubes with 18 torpedoes and eight Strela-3/Igla-1 surface-to-air missiles. Alternatively, the torpedo tubes can deploy 24 mines.
These submarines are powered with two 4DL-42M diesel generators, 1500 kW each (1000 kW each for the first 2 diesel generators). Different from Project 877 submarines which have a 6 bladed propeller, Improved Kilo-class subs are fitted with a 7 bladed propeller.
The MGK-400EM digital sonar is installed on Type 636.3. The sonar suit, according to Robosonexport, detects submarine and surface ship targets in sonar listening mode, echo-ranging in a 30° sector of the target relative bearing, telephone and telegraph communication in both long and short-range modes, detection of underwater sound signals, and signal-bearing determination.