The Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg in Russia’s northwest has delivered the first Project 636.3 submarine Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky designated for the Pacific Fleet to the Russian Navy. The submarines for the Pacific Fleet have already undergone some modernization. The most advanced solutions are incorporated in this ship. The ceremony of raising the Navy flag was held on the company’s deep-water pier.
The submarine Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky of Project 636.3 is the first in a series of six boats being built at the Admiralty Shipyards for the Pacific Fleet; she was laid down in July 2017 and launched in March 2019. Her construction was a significant event in the implementation of the long-term plan of the Russian Ministry of Defense to equip the Navy with new-generation submarines and to implement the state program of naval shipbuilding.
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 (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. Submarines of this Project have an operational range of up to 7,500 miles. 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 underwater cruisers. They can develop a speed of up to 20 knots, have their sea endurance of 45 days and a crew of 52 men.
