VLADIVOSTOK. Nov 25 (Interfax-AVN) - A diesel submarine of the Varshavyanka project (Kilo class) from the Russian Pacific Fleet has made the first long completely autonomous voyage in six years, the fleet headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
The crew carried out all its tasks and established contact with a foreign submarine, the headquarters said.
"The tentative evaluation of the crew's performance, led by Captain Alexander Sautin, is excellent," deputy commander of the fleet Rear Admiral Alexander Konev said welcoming the submarine in Vladivostok.
The first Varshavyanka multipurpose submarine (Project 877) was built in the early 1980s. The vessel was developed by the Rubin central design bureau of naval equipment.
Twenty-four submarines of this class are in the inventory of the Russian Navy. In addition, two Varshavyankas have been sold to China, eight to India, and three to Iran.
Project 877 submarines were originally intended for anti- submarine and anti-ship warfare, as well as for protection of naval bases, coastal and sea communications, reconnaissance and patrolling of enemy's communications.
The submarine has a dual hull and single tail-shaft. The rigid hull is divided into six waterproof sections, which the developers say allows the submarine to stay afloat even if one of the sections is flooded. In addition, the vessel is fitted with a special exhaust system in order to decrease the risk of detection. The light hull has rubber noise-absorbing coating that incorporates a special layer for coping with the sunlight effect in tropical seas.
The submarine's surface displacement is 2,300t and underwater displacement 3,950t. The vessel can submerge at a depth of 300m; it has a surface speed of 10 knots and underwater speed of 17 knots; its endurance is 400 miles. It can cover a distance of 6,000 miles moving on the surface at a speed of seven knots powered by diesel engines or 400 miles moving on the surface at a speed of three knots powered by the electric engine.
The submarine's armament consists of 18 torpedoes that can be fired at two targets simultaneously. In addition, two torpedo tubes are adapted for firing TEST-71MKE TV electric torpedoes that are fitted with an active homing television-controlled hydroacoustic system . The system allows the operator to assign the target manually and control the torpedo's movement in two planes. The submarine can fire wake-guided torpedoes.
The combat control system consists of the MBU-110EM multipurpose computer capable of tracking up to five targets simultaneously. The submarine carries the MGK-400 hydro-acoustic system for rangefinding, , hydro-acoustic signal detection and underwater communication.
The main power plant consists of two diesel generators developing 1,000kW each and an electric engine developing 5,500hp.