The Admiralty Shipyard has wrapped up the first stage of shipbuilders’ sea trials of the improved Project 677 Lada-class diesel-electric submarine Kronshtadt. During the first stage of the trials, the submarine’s speed and maneuvering tests were carried out. The Shipyard’s specialists and the sub’s crew also performed the vessel’s re-ballasting and heeling tests, checked its sonar system, navigation, and communications equipment, and tested its lifting and mast-hoisting devices. The Admiralty Shipyard is building the conventional submarine Kronshtadt under the adjusted design based on the results of the operational evaluation of the Project’s lead vessel.
The submarines of this Project are furnished with the modified control system for onboard facilities, the electric propulsion system, and the navigation equipment. Project 677 Lada-class submarines belong to the fourth generation of diesel-electric underwater cruisers. Western military experts have dubbed these submarines ‘black holes’ for their unique quietness and stealth. They can dive to a depth of 250 meters, develop an underwater speed of 21 knots and their sea endurance is 45 days. The submarines of this class are armed with Kalibr cruise missiles and six 533mm torpedo tubes with various torpedoes, missiles, and mines. All the submarines of this Project are being built by the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg.
Lada class, Russian designation Project 677 Lada (NATO reporting name Lada) is the new advanced class of diesel-electric attack submarine designed by the Russian Rubin Design Bureau. A program to develop a “fourth generation” diesel-electric submarine, it aimed to produce a highly improved version of the Project 636 with a better acoustic signature, new combat systems, and possibly air-independent propulsion. The lead ship of the class, named Sankt Peterburg, was launched in October 2004 and began sea trials in November 2005. The submarine was transferred to the Russian Navy in April 2010. Another two vessels were under construction at the Admiralty Shipyard with plans to launch four to six submarines by 2015. The Russian Navy had set out a requirement for a total of eight St. Petersburg-class submarines.
