State Contract for Borey-Class Submarines Faces Delays

MOSCOW, April 14 (RIA Novosti)

A contract to build Borey class submarines, the most costly of the 2012 state defense orders, faces delays over pricing, the Kommersant daily said on Saturday citing shipbuilding and defense sources.

“The defense ministry is again dissatisfied with the price substantiation, so the signing of the contract is ruled out in the near future,” a source in the shipbuilding industry told Kommersant.

According to the paper, Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) said one submarine will cost about 26 billion rubles ($878,000), or about 130 billion rubles ($4.4 billion) in total.

A defense ministry source said “the manufacturers still want to sell it at an unjustifiably high price,” while shipbuilders say such prices would barely allow them to make any profit.

In line with the revised state armament procurement program, the Russian Navy is to receive at least 10 new Borey class strategic nuclear submarines until 2020.

Dmitry Rogozin, the deputy prime minister in charge of the defense industry, said earlier this week he was uncertain that the agreement will be reached on all state defense orders for 2012 before the April 15 deadline.

He said that price is still being negotiated on some objects on the list that require a production period of five-seven years, for example those intended for the Air Force and the Navy.

Source: en.ria.ru

Russia's 2nd Graney Class Nuclear Sub to Enter Service in 2015

 The construction of the Kazan submarine at the Sevmash Shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk began in 2010

The Russian Navy will receive a second Graney class nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine in 2015, a spokesman for the Malakhit design bureau said.

The construction of the Kazan submarine at the Sevmash Shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk began in 2010. The first vessel of the Graney class, the Severodvinsk submarine, will enter service by the end of 2011.

"The hull of the Kazan sub has been built, but we still have to make many upgrades compared with the first vessel in the series. We are planning to deliver the submarine to the Navy in 2015," the official told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

The Kazan will feature more advanced equipment and weaponry than the Severodvinsk, which has been under construction since 1993.

Graney class nuclear submarines are designed to launch a variety of long-range cruise missiles (up to 3,100 miles or 5,000 km), with conventional or nuclear warheads, and effectively engage submarines, surface warships and land-based targets.

The submarine's armament includes 24 cruise missiles and eight torpedo launchers, as well as mines and anti-ship missiles.

Source: en.rian.ru

Russia's first Graney-class nuke attack sub to begin sea trials in May

The Oscar class nuke submarine of Russia. The new Graney-class attack subs are set to replace the Soviet-era Akula class and Oscar class subs.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia's first Graney class nuclear attack submarine, Severodvinsk, is set to begin sea trials in May following which it will be inducted in the Russian Navy by 2011-end.

The submarine, which was floated out in June 2010 after over a decade-long delay in its construction, is presently undergoing harbour trials at the Sevmash Shipyard, an official said.

"The submarine is undergoing harbour trials at the Sevmash Shipyard and is getting ready for sea trials in May," a spokesman for the Malakhit design bureau said.

"It should enter service with the Russian Navy by the end of this year," the official was quoted as saying by Ria Novosti.

Russia began the construction of Severodvinsk in 1993 which was scheduled to be completed by 1998. However, financial and technical snags delayed the project.

The new-generation submarine has a water displacement of 9,700 tons when surfaced and 13,500 tons when submerged.

The large vessel is capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles that include the 3M51 Alfa SLCM, the SS-NX-26 Oniks SLCM or SS-N-21 Granat/Sampson SLCM, and also anti-ship missiles such as the SS-N-16 Stallion. It is also equipped with eight torpedo launchers.

Severodvinsk is the first Graney class (Project 885 Yasen) nuclear attack submarine. Another vessel of this class, Kazan, is presently under construction.

The Graney-class nuclear attack submarines are based on Russia's Akula-class and Alfa-class submarines. They are slated to replace the Soviet-era Akula class and Oscar class subs of the navy.

Source: Brahmand

Russian Navy to Receive New Nuclear Attack Submarine by Yearend

 Russian Navy to receive new nuclear attack submarine by yearend

The Russian Navy will receive a new Graney class nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine by the end of 2011, a spokesman for the Malakhit design bureau said on Monday.

K-329 Severodvinsk - 4th-generation Project 885 Yasen/Graney class nuclear sub is designed to launch a variety of long-range cruise missiles

Construction of the Severodvinsk submarine began in 1993 at the Sevmash Shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk but has since been dogged by financial setbacks. It was floated out in June last year.

"The submarine is undergoing harbor trials at the Sevmash Shipyard and is getting ready for sea trials in May," the official said. "It should enter service with the Russian Navy by the end of this year."

Graney class nuclear submarines are designed to launch a variety of long-range cruise missiles (up to 3,100 miles or 5,000 km), with conventional or nuclear warheads, and effectively engage submarines, surface warships and land-based targets.

The submarine's armament includes 24 cruise missiles and eight torpedo launchers, as well as mines and anti-ship missiles.

In 2009, work started on the second sub of the Graney class, the Kazan, which will feature more advanced equipment and weaponry.

MOSCOW, January 31 (RIA Novosti)

Source: en.rian.ru

Alfa class

The second Soviet titanium-hulled submarine design, the Project 705 Lira, known in the West as the Alfa class, came to light in December 1971, when the first unit was commissioned. Five more followed in 1972-82.

The Alfa class was the world's fastest and deepest diving submarines as of their time. An extensive automation allowed to reduce crew to only 30 men. These advanced submarines had their crews completed from officers and warrant-officers only. It also featured an advanced low drag configuration and was extremely maneuverable. The Alfa class submarines were significantly smaller than contemporary attack submarines.

A single reactor and turbine plant drive the boat at the phenomenal 42 knots under water. Reactor's power could be rapidly increased, as well as submarines speed. However what was not realized at the time was that there was a serious flaw in the lead-bismuth system of the Alfa's 40 000 hp reactor cooling system. The plant was very unreliable, and the cost led to the Lira/Alfa being nicknamed the 'Golden Fish'.

It is worth mentioning that Alfas had sophisticated crew rescue system. It provided safe exit for entire crew from maximum depth.

When British and American submariners first encountered the Alfa they were astounded. The result that NATO navies allocated massive R&D funding to the development of deep-running torpedoes.

By this time all Alfa class boats have been decommissioned or remain in reserve, however their current state is likely to be poor.

Entered service	1971
Crew	31 men
Diving depth (operational)	?
Diving depth (maximum)	750 m
Sea endurance	50 days (stores)
Dimensions and displacement
Length	81 m
Beam	9.5 m
Draught	8 m
Surfaced displacement	2 800 tons
Submerged displacement	3 680 tons
Propulsion and speed
Surfaced speed	20 knots
Submerged speed	42 knots
Nuclear reactors	1 x 155 MW
Steam turbines	2 x ?
Armament
Torpedoes	6 x 533-mm torpedo tubes for conventional or nuclear torpedoes
Other	up to 36 mines in place of torpedoes

Source: Military Today

Project 705/705K ALFA class Russian Submarine part 2

Source: Sicqnus at Youtube

Project 705/705K ALFA Class Russian Submarine part 1

Source: Sicqnus at Youtube

Russian Submarine Video

Source: Papelpopov at Youtube

Oscar II Class

The Project 949A Antey, known in NATO as the Oscar II class is a successor to the previous Oscar I class. Out of 19 planned boats 11 were built at Severodvinsk. Three more boats are incomplete, however it is unlikely that these will ever be commissioned. Active Oscar II class submarines are in service with the Northern and Pacific fleets. Currently these are among the most capable Russian submarines.

The Oscar II class has a lengthened hull by some 10 m, possibly for a quieter propulsion and upgraded electronic systems, and an enlarged fin, which improves underwater maneuverability. These boats are the third largest submarines in terms of displacement and length. Only the Soviet Typhoon class and American Ohio class boats are larger. However these are still the largest attack submarines ever constructed.

These cruise missile boats were designed to attack US aircraft carrier battle groups or coastal installations.

The Project 949A Antey is a double-hulled design, which comprises an inner pressure hull and outer hydrodynamic hull. Separation between both hulls provides significant reserve of buoyancy and improved survivability against torpedoes. The outer hull has a weak magnetic signature, which prevents detection by Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) systems. The reinforced sail is intended to break through the Arctic ice.

The Oscar II class SSGNs are armed with 24 P-700 Granit (NATO designation SS-N-19 Shipwreck) supersonic cruise missiles with a range of 550 km. Missile tubes are arranged in two rows with the launchers are placed between the inner and outer hulls and inclined at an angle. Missiles are launched while the submarine is submerged. A warhead of this missile weights 1 000 kg. Under the START treaty nuclear warheads of these missiles have been replaced with high explosive.

These submarines are also fitted with two 650-mm and four 533-mm torpedo tubes, capable of launching both torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. These include the SS-N-16 Stallion anti-ship missiles with a range of 50 km, carrying torpedoes, nuclear warheads or nuclear depth charges for use against surface ships or submarines.

The Oscar II class boats are fitted with a floating antenna buoy to receive satellite navigation signals, target designation data and radio messages at a great depth and under the ice.

Submarines of this class are powered by two pressurized water nuclear reactors, powering two steam turbines. These large boats are slow to dive and to maneuver, however they have a submerged speed of about 30 knots, which is sufficient to keep pace with their targets. Sea endurance is limited only by food supplies.

The famous Kursk was lost with all hands in the Barents sea in 2000. It was one of the first boats completed after the fall of the Soviet Union and was part of the Russian Northern fleet.

Entered service	1986
Crew	107 men
Diving depth (operational)	500 m
Diving depth (maximum)	830 m
Sea endurance	120 days
Dimensions and displacement
Length	154 m
Beam	18.2 m
Draught	9 m
Surfaced displacement	13 900 tons
Submerged displacement	18 300 tons
Propulsion and speed
Surfaced speed	16 knots
Submerged speed	28 knots
Nuclear reactors	2 x ?
Steam turbines	2 x ?
Armament
Missiles	24 x P-700 Granit (SS-N-19 Shipwreck) cruise missiles
Torpedoes	2 x 650-mm and 4 x 533-mm torpedo tubes for torpedoes and anti-ship missiles

Source: Military Today

Oscar I Class

In 1970s the Soviet shipyard at Severodvinsk launched a single Project 881 Anchar unit that became known in NATO circles as the Papa class. This boat was considerably larger and carried two more missile tubes for the P-120 Malakhit (SS-N-9 Siren) anti-ship missiles than the contemporary Charlie class SSGNs. The Papa class was for many years a puzzle to Western intelligence services.

The answer appeared in 1980 at the same shipyard, however, with the launch of the even larger Project 949 Granit (NATO designation Oscar I class) SSGN. The Papa class unit had been conceived from 1958 as the cruise missile-launching predecessor to the titanium hulled Alfa class high speed and deep diving SSN. But because it's high underwater noise levels it had become the prototype for advanced SSGN concepts with a considerably changed powerplant and revised propeller arrangement.

The missile system had been created to test the underwater launched version of the P-120 for the subsequent Charlie II series of SSGN. The Oscar design introduced more improvements, and these included two 12-round banks of underwater-launched P-700 Granit (NATO designation SS-N-19 Shipwreck) long range supersonic anti-ship missile tubes outside the main pressure hull. In common with other Soviet submarines the Oscar class features a double hull, comprising an inner pressure hull and an outer hydrodynamic hull.

Only two Oscar I class boats were built. Both of these submarines were assigned to the Northern fleet. These boats were decommissioned in 1996 and scrapped a couple of years later. The Oscar I class boats paved the way for 11 of a planned 19 Project 949A Antey or Oscar II class SSGNs.

Entered service	1980
Crew	94 men
Diving depth (operational)	500 m
Diving depth (maximum)	830 m
Sea endurance	120 days
Dimensions and displacement
Length	145 m
Beam	18.2 m
Draught	9 m
Surfaced displacement	12 500 tons
Submerged displacement	16 500 tons
Propulsion and speed
Surfaced speed	16 knots
Submerged speed	28 knots
Nuclear reactors	2 x ?
Steam turbines	2 x ?
Armament
Missiles	24 x P-700 Granit (SS-N-19 Shipwreck)
Torpedoes	2 x 650-mm and 4 x 533-mm torpedo tubes for torpedoes and anti-ship missiles

Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
Archangelsk (K-525)	1975	1980	1980	decommissioned, scrapped
Murmansk (K-206)	1979	1982	1983	decommissioned, scrapped

Source: Military Today

Kilo Class Submarine

The Kilo class is the NATO reporting name for a military diesel-electric submarine that is made in Russia. The original version of the vessels were designated Project 877 Paltus (Turbot) in Russia. There is also a more advanced version, designated as Improved Kilo in the west, and Project 636 Varshavyanka in Russia. The Kilo will be succeeded by the Lada class submarine, which began sea trials in 2005.

The boats are mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations in relatively shallow waters. Original Project 877 boats are equipped with Rubikon MGK-400 sonar system (with NATO reporting name Shark Gill), which includes a mine detection and avoidance sonar MG-519 Arfa (with NATO reporting name Mouse Roar). Newer Project 636 boats are equipped with improved MGK-400EM, with MG-519 Afra also upgraded to MG-519EM. The improved sonar systems have reduced the number of operators needed by sharing the same console via automation. Project 636, sometimes called "The Black Hole" by the US Navy for its uncanny ability to "disappear", is thought to be one of the quietest diesel-electric submarine classes in the world.^[1]

Anechoic tiles are fitted on casings and fins to absorb the sonar sound waves of active sonar, which results in a reduction and distortion of the return signal.^[2] These tiles also help attenuate sounds that are emitted from the submarine, thus reducing the range by which the sub may be detected by passive sonar.^[3]

Operators

The first submarine entered service in the Soviet Navy in 1982, and the class remains in use with the Russian navy. 16 vessels are believed to still be in active service with the Russian Navy, while 8 vessels are thought to be in reserve.^[4] So far, 33 vessels have been exported to several countries:

• Algeria - 2 Original Kilo, 2 Improved Kilo to be commissioned between 2009-2010.^[5]
• People's Republic of China - 2 Original Kilo, 10 Improved Kilo.^[6][7][8]
• India - 10 Kilo designated the Sindhughosh Class.^[9][10]
• Poland - 1 Kilo ORP Orzeł.^[11]
• Indonesia - 2 Improved Kilo ordered in 2006, Scheduled to arrive at 2009.^[12]
• Iran - 3 Kilo.^[13]
• Romania - 1 Kilo - (Delfinul).^[14]
• Russia - 16 Kilo in active service, 8 in reserve.^[15]
• Vietnam - 6 Improved Kilo on order, first delivery of 2 ships in 2010, completion of order in 2011.^[16]

Specifications

There are several variants of the Kilo class. The information below is the smallest and largest number from the available information for all three variants of the ship.^[1]

• Displacement:
  • 2,300-2,350 tons surfaced
  • 3,000-4,000 tons submerged
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 70-74 meters
  • Beam: 9.9 meters
  • Draft: 6.2-6.5 meters
• Maximum speed
  • 10-12 knots surfaced
  • 17-25 knots submerged
• Propulsion: Diesel-electric 5,900 shp (4,400 kW)
• Maximum depth: 300 meters (240-250 meters operational)
• Endurance
  • 400 nautical miles (700 km) at 3 knots (6 km/h) submerged
  • 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) at 7 knots (13 km/h) snorkeling (7,500 miles for the Improved Kilo class)
  • 45 days sea endurance
• Armament
  • Air defence: 8 SA-N-8 Gremlin or SA-N-10 Gimlet^[17] Surface-to-air missiles (export submarines may not be equipped with air defense weapons)
  • Six 533 mm torpedo tubes with 18 53-65 ASuW or TEST 71/76 ASW torpedoes or VA-111 Shkval supercavitating "underwater missiles", or 24 DM-1 mines,
• Crew: 52
• Price per unit is US$200–250 million (China paid approx. US$1.5-2 billion for 8 Project 636 Kilo class submarines)

Source: Wikipedia

Indonesia Looks To Russian Submarines

The government is set to purchase Russian-made submarine, a legislator said Monday. “There’s always been a plan to purchase submarine and I’ve surveyed a few submarine workshops in Moscow, Russia. This submarine is to display our naval strength and also anticipate any armed conflicts,” deputy speaker of the House of Representatives’ Commission I on political, security and foreign affairs, Yusron Ihza said, as quoted by Antara news.
Ihza added that due to the global economic downturn, the purchase would be made in stages.
“It’s not necessary to own many submarines since they are expensive, just three state of the art units suffice to safeguard the integrity of our waters,” Ihza said. He added that the country’s economic power needed enhancement as it correlated to the country’s defense and security.
If the country’s economy lies in the balance, so is our defense, Ihza said. “My colleagues and I at the House have fought for an increase in defense spending, yet unfortunately this isn’t possible now,” he said, adding that only a third of the proposed budget was approved.

Comment: Indonesia does not have the money for this purchase but it will raise funds through commercial loans most probably from banks in France. However, the submarine, most possibly a Kilo-class, will be sometime in coming and the loan sometime in organising.

Source: Jakarta Post
Date: 9 February 2009