MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax-AVN) - The St. Petersburg-based Admiralty Shipyard plans to lay down the next Project 636 diesel-electric submarine Krasnodar at the end of February, a Russian Navy spokesman said.
"The submarine's laying-down ceremony will take place on February 20," an Admiralty Shipyard spokesperson said.
"According to the Navy Main Command's plans, six submarines of this project should be built by 2016," a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson said.
The six submarines "will join the Black Sea Fleet's submarine fleet and will be based at the Novorossiysk base, where the construction of the necessary infrastructure is nearing completion," he said.
"With the adoption of the Project 636 submarines, the Black Sea Fleet will significantly expand its capabilities in its operational area, which will enable it to fully ensure security in the Black Sea and Mediterranean underwater environment in coordination with the surface forces," he said.
The first Project 636 diesel-electric submarine Novorossiysk built and launched earlier by Admiralty Shipyard is to start its dock trials on February 1, he said.
The Project 636 submarines have been developed by the Rubin Central Maritime Design Bureau in St. Petersburg. Due to their low noise level, these submarines are guaranteed to forestall their detection by enemy vessels and attack them as well as land targets using cruise missiles from a long distance.