Moscow: Russia could sell up to 40 fourth-generation diesel submarines to foreign customers in the next seven and a half years, the state-run arms exporter said Wednesday. “Analysis of the demand on foreign markets shows that 30 to 40 new Russian submarines could be sold by 2015,” Rosoboronexport said in a statement posted on its Web site. Russia has ensured high export potential in this segment of the submarine market by developing state-of-the-art Project 636 and Project 677 diesel submarines.
The Project 636 Kilo-class submarine is thought to be one of the most silent submarine classes in the world. It has been specifically designed for anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations in relatively shallow waters.
Russia has built Kilo-class submarines for India, China and Iran.
The Project-677 or Lada-class diesel submarine, developed by the Rubin design bureau, whose export version is known as the Amur 1650, features a new anti-sonar coating for its hull, an extended cruising range, and advanced anti-ship and anti-submarine weaponry.
Both submarines are equipped with highly-acclaimed Club-S integrated missile systems.
The Club-S submarine cruise missile family includes the 3M-54E1 anti-ship missile and the 3M-14E land-attack versions, with a flight range of 275km (about 170 miles). The missile can be launched from standard torpedo tubes from a depth of 35 to 40 meters (130 feet).
Indonesia said last year it was planning to acquire to acquire four Kilo-class and two Amur 950 (a smaller version of Lada-class) submarines.
Russian daily Kommersant recently reported that Venezuela had approached Russia with a request to build nine diesel submarines, five of the Project 636 and four of the project 677.
