ST. PETERSBURG. Dec 27 (Interfax-AVN) - Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarines Novorosiiysk, Rostov-na-Donu, and Stary Oskol, which are being built at the Admiralteiskiye Verfi shipyard, will be provided to the Black Sea Fleet in 2014, a source in the Russian shipbuilding industry told Interfax-AVN on Friday.
The Black Sea Fleet headquarters earlier told Interfax-AVN the crews of the submarines Novorosiiysk and Rostov-na-Donu have been fully formed and their commanders have been appointed.
The first submarine to be provided to the Black Sea Fleet in 2014 will be the Novorosiiysk, whose construction began in August 2010. The Rostov-na-Donu and Stary Oskol will be provided to the Black Sea Fleet in late November.
Project 636.3 submarines are third-generation Varshanyanka class submarines (NATO classification Kilo). They were developed as anti-boat and anti-ship submarines and submarines used for defending naval bases, coastal and sea facilities, and reconnaissance and patrol activities. A Project 636.3 is 73 meters long and 10 meters wide, has a maximum depth of 350 meters, its underwater speed is twenty knots, and its endurance is 45 days.