Against the backdrop of the OCK Admiralty Shipyards facilities, the Russian Navy celebrated the launching of a new diesel-electric propulsion Kilo II-class attack submarine (also known as the Improved Kilo or Project 636.3). The ceremony was led by the Deputy Commander of the Russian Federation Navy, Igor Mukhametshin, representing the institution’s Commander-in-Chief.
The submarine, named Yakutsk, whose construction began in 2021, is the twelfth of the Kilo II class and the sixth to be assigned to the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet. It will join the units Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Volkhov, Magadan, Ufa, and Mozhaisk, which are already in service.
During his speech addressed to Russian Navy authorities, Ministry of Defense officials, and shipyard representatives and workers, Igor Mukhametshin stated: “We are launching the sixth submarine for the Pacific Fleet, completing the planned construction of a series of six ships. The Project 636 submarines are equipped with high-precision weapons, capable of carrying out tasks of any complexity in various ocean areas. They have demonstrated their superior navigational and combat characteristics after thousands of nautical miles sailed, multiple combat missions, and brilliantly executed tasks.”
For his part, Andrei Bystrov, Acting Director General of OAO Admiralty Shipyards, said: “It is always sad for a company’s leader to talk about the completion of a series, but the five ships we have already delivered to the Navy speak to the seriousness of the Admiralty shipyards’ intention to always meet its obligations to the customer. Currently, we are building two ships of Project 677. New contracts are on the way, and I am confident that our plant will continue to be the center for non-nuclear submarine construction in the country.”
As noted on other occasions, the Kilo II class represents the latest version of attack submarines originally developed during the Soviet era. In recent years, Russian design bureaus and shipyards have subjected these submarines to significant revisions and improvements, culminating in the construction of the Kilo II class. Among these upgrades are the capability to launch Kalibr-PL anti-ship missiles (SS-N-27 Sizzler) and 533mm torpedoes, as well as improvements in range and stealth capabilities.
In the coming weeks and months, following the launch of the Yakutsk, system and sensor finalization work will be carried out, followed by port and sea trials, and continuing with acceptance trials until its delivery to the Russian Navy is complete. As previously mentioned, this unit is intended to join the Pacific Fleet, like the five previous units, the most recent being the Mozhaisk.
Finally, although no further details have been provided, the Admiralty Shipyards, based in the city of Moscow, currently have two Kilo II-class submarines under construction at various stages of progress. These are the units named Petrozavodsk and Mariupol, to which two additional units should be added based on contracts issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense, which will conclude the construction of this class.
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