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Serial Project 677 submarines to have air-independent power plants

The submarine of project 636 is the further development of project 877 EKM submarine

MOSCOW, April 2 (Itar-Tass) —— The Project 677 serial conventional submarines Kronshtadt and Sevastopol, which are in different degrees of readiness at Admiralty Shipyard will be provided with air-independent power plants and finished, Andrei Baranov, Deputy Director-General of the Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering “Rubin”, said.

The Russian Navy needs such submarines because they can stay submerged longer, he said on Monday, April 2.

Baranov said that the Navy’s decision to order six Project 636 submarines was a forced measure in order to fill the gap between Project 877 submarines, which are finishing their service life, and new Project 677 submarines, for which no timeframe has been set up so far.

The submarine of project 636 is the further development of project 877 EKM submarine.

The combat effectiveness of Project 636 submarine is considerably increased provided she is equipped with Club-S missiles in combination with modern sensors to support the missile complex.

The Project 636 submarine entirely meets the requirements to the submarines of this class in terms of endurance, stealth, automation, combat readiness and other parameters. The submarine can perform all the tasks which modern conventional submarines are assigned with, both in littoral and blue water areas.

Project 677 submarine belongs to the fourth generation of Russian non-nuclear submarines. The boat can effectively solve all the tasks which modern conventional submarines are assigned with, both in littoral and blue water areas.

The submarine incorporated the latest solutions in shipbuilding and engineering; in the course of development, Russia's defence research and production companies had done over 200 R&D works to make efficient, small-size, low-noise up-to-date electronic warfare systems, new high-precision weapons and ship equipment with minimum power consumption.

Baranov said the installation of air-independent power plants aboard Project 677 submarines would strengthen the design bureau’s positions in the market of conventional submarines as it would allow the company not only to offer new craft but also upgrade earlier modifications of Projects 877EKM and 636 submarines in the countries where they are in use.

Project 877E and 877EKM submarines are export modifications of Project 877. Lead Project 877E and 877EKM submarines were delivered to the navies of Poland and India in April, 1986. Over the past years the equipment, systems, weapons and logistics have demonstrated their high reliability enabling the crew to fulfil with confidence their tasks in long patrols.

Rubin is now testing a new power plant.