February 15, 2018

Russian Submarine Development as at 2018

In terms of conventional subs (SSKs) Russia has only been able to build and sell Kilo submarines (Project 877) since 1980 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilo-class_submarine#Project_877_units 

and Improved Kilo subs (Project 636) since 1996 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilo-class_submarine#Project_636_units

In 2012 Russia also 10 year leased one Akula II SSN (known as INS Chakra) to India https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_submarine_Nerpa_(K-152)

Due to a limited submarine defense budget Russia has spent more on nuclear submarine development and production (new Yasen "Multipurpose", Borey/Borei SSBNs and updated Akula SSNs, Delta SSBNs and Oscar SSGNs) with insufficient money to develop AIP for conventional diesel-electric subs. 

Thus Russia has been unable to develop and market AIP submarines which it hoped to sell under marketing names of Project Amur https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amur-class_submarine and Kalina https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Kalina


What Russia has announced as Project Haski or Husky may only produce new nuclear multipurpose and SSBNs in the 2040s or later.

Pete

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello, Pete
The aforementioned https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_of_the_Russian_Navy#Submarines is either out of date or sketchy.
As you know, I am following the daily information on that matter.

SSBN
3 class 955 Borey are yet in service, one in the Northern fleet, two others in the Pac one.
https://www.soumarsov.eu/Sous-marins/Post92/955/955.htm

5 class Borey-A are in construction. The first one is expected in service in 2018, the last one in november 2021. But that could be delayed until 2023 -2025…
https://www.soumarsov.eu/Sous-marins/Post92/955A/955A.htm

A new 955B is expected with a first unit in service in 2026. As it takes roughly 7 year to build that kind of unit, she should be laid down in 2018 or 2019. But there is a fierce fight between Rubin and Malakhit for the project engineering. Rubin is arguing for a 995A follow-on, and Malakhit for a common platform for SSN, SSGN and SSBN

The main overhaul schedule for 667BDRM Delfin Delta IV, as noticed during the last years is a ten-year pattern.

SSGN
Two classes are in current service, class 949A Antey / Oscar II and class 885 Yasen.
For the Yasen class, one is active in the Northern fleet (K-565). She has been in experimental service for years and that’s only in march 2016 that she was fully accepted.
A follow-on is the 885M Yasen-M. Six unit only are under construction at Sevmash, the first one, Kazan, expected for the end of 2018. The last one, Ulyanovsk, is due to 2023 for the best.
https://www.soumarsov.eu/Sous-marins/Post92/885M/885M.htm
There in no follow-on announced.

Some class 949A are to be modernized in project 949AM. Modernization who would let them employ Kalibr-PL missile. At least two are in Zvezda shipyard, K-132 announced for 2021, and K-442 for 2023. 3rd and 4th are yet to be announced.
https://www.soumarsov.eu/Sous-marins/Post92/949AM/949AM.htm

Russian vice minister announced on February 8th that a modernized class 949A will be in service with Kalibr missile in 2018, the K-186 Omsk. As far as I can know, this sub is only at the shipyard for repairs in her propulsion system. (those huge subs seem to have frequent propulsion problems).

SSN
No new construction is going on. Some units of 971, 945A (and 945?) are said to be modernized in Zvezdochka, but the first unit will not come back into service until 2019
https://www.soumarsov.eu/Sous-marins/Post92/971M/971M.htm
A new project, named Khaski (Husky) has been announced. Designed by Malakhit, the program is expected to be launched in 2018, and the first unit laid down at Sevmash not before 2023 or 2024.
https://www.soumarsov.eu/Sous-marins/Futur/Khaski/Khaski.htm

SSK
Six class 06363 are under construction for the Pac fleet. Deliveries are from 2019 and 2022.
https://www.soumarsov.eu/Sous-marins/Post92/636/06363/6363.htm
Lada’s class is still in uncertainty. Unit 2 is expected in 2019, and unit 3 in 2021. Two more could be ordered in 2018.
https://www.soumarsov.eu/Sous-marins/Post92/677/677.htm

Kalina
She should have an Underwater Range Extender (URE) [All subs are really using AIP underwater, isn’t it?]. But the design process will be finished in the 2018 – 2025 equipment program. No unit laid down is announced.
https://www.soumarsov.eu/Sous-marins/Futur/Kalina/Kalina.htm

PS: all the related publications are in the “Bibliographie” tab for each class
Regards

Pete said...

Thanks Anonymous

I will make changes to the article tomorrow.

Regards

Pete

Anonymous said...

Hi Pete

Key technologies of driving systemr for latest diesel submarine are LIBs, PMSM, diesel genrators and AIP. In my intuition, Russia has not enough patents for these technolgies and behinds from western countries including Japan. China also has developed LIBs and PMSM. Getting back technology delay is not easy for Russia, because of patent barriers of western countries and China. But, Russia has deep experience on submarine techologies which China really needs. Therefore, technology exchange of conventional submarine between China and Russia is expected in future, whether Russia wishes or not.

Regards