A new diesel-electric submarine, the Velikiye Luki, was launched during a ceremony in Russia's northwestern city of Saint Petersburg on Friday. The submarine is now set to receive additional tweaks before heading for tests and, ultimately, joining the country’s navy, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The warship was built at the Admiralty Shipyards plant, which is operated by the state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC).
The vessel is the third submarine in the Lada diesel-electric class, capable of autonomous deployment of up to 45 days, diving to 300 meters and capable of speeds up to 21 knots (nearly 39 kmph) while submerged. Lada-family submarines are fitted with eight 533 mm torpedo tubes, also used for mine laying and launching Kalibr cruise missiles.
Such submarines are extra-stealthy thanks to low noise emission, as well as a special coating on the vessel’s hull.
Marking the launch, Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Viktor Yevtukhov said “Project 677 Lada submarines belong to a new generation of non-nuclear submarines. To date, the submarines of this project are recognized as the most modern diesel-electric boats designed for the Russian Navy.”
“Deeply modernized equipment pieces are installed on this ship: a control system for ship hardware, an electric propulsion system, a navigation complex, and others. Admiralty Shipyards is the only plant building ships of this class in Russia.”
Earlier this year, Admiralty Shipyards laid down two other vessels of the type, the Yaroslavl and the Vologda submarines. The plant has also been working on the second vessel in the Kronshtadt series, with the submarine set to head for state tests late in December, according to the ministry.