Admiralteiskie Verfi launches the Kronshtadt, diesel-electric submarine of Project 677
AO Admiralteiskie Verfi (a shipyard of United Shipbuilding Corporation) says it has launched the Kronshtadt diesel-electric submarine of Project 677 ‘Lada’ built for RF Navy.
“Today, we are launching a ship laid down in 2005. Both financing and construction were suspended during these years. However, this pause let us take the maximum of the experience from the Northern Fleet’s operation of the Saint-Petersburg submarine, the lead ship of the project”, said Aleksandr Buzakov, General Director of Admiralteiskie Verfi adding that a contract for the fourth and the fifth submarines of Lada design is to be signed in 2019.
The Kronshtadt, the second submarine in a series of Project 677 ‘Lada’, was laid down in 2005. In 2009, the construction was suspended by the decision of RF Defence Ministry up to trial operation of the lead ship in the series. The state contract to resume the construction was signed on 9 July 2013.
Some of the systems have been upgraded taking into consideration the findings of the lead ship’s trial operation.
The Project 677 ‘Lada’ is the fourth generation of conventional submarines. As of today, they are considered to be the most promising diesel-electric submarines in Russia in terms of combat effectiveness and other performance characteristics. Ao Admiralteiskie Verfi is the only shipyard to build submarines of this class.
The main characteristics of Lada submarines are the following: underwater speed - 21 knots, submerged endurance at a speed of 3 knots - 650 miles; maximum diving depth – 300 meters; surface displacement – 1,765 cubic meters; length — 66.8 meters; hull diameter — 7.1 meters; endurance - 45 days; crew – 35 persons; number of torpedo tubes - 6 units; ammunition (missiles, torpedoes, mines), units/calibre - 18/533.
AO Admiralteiskie Verfi (Admiralty Shipyards) is a key enterprise of shipbuilding, a centre of conventional submarine building of Russia. The shipyard is affiliated with the United Shipbuilding Corporation. A number of contracts are being successfully implemented at the shipyard for domestic and foreign customers. Three series of submarines are under construction now for RF and foreign Navies. Besides, icebreaker Ilya Muromets and a series of patrol icebreakers are under construction. The Company’s staff numbers 6,300 persons. On 5 November 2017 the shipyard celebrated 313 years from its foundation.
