Home Europe Russia’s eighth Improved Kilo sub starts dockside tests ahead of sea trials

Russia’s eighth Improved Kilo sub starts dockside tests ahead of sea trials

Project 636.3 submarine Volkhov
Photo: Admiralty Shipyards

Russian shipbuilder Admiralty Shipyards has started mooring trials on the Pacific Fleet’s second Improved Kilo-class submarine, before the boat starts sea trials in the Baltic Sea.

The shipbuilder said the dockside testing would take about three months to complete, adding that the submarine would then be ready for builder’s and state trials.

The Volkhov, as the submarine is named, is the overall eighth Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarine built for the Russian Navy. The first six boats for the Black Sea fleet all entered service by 2016, while the first unit for the Pacific Fleet was commissioned in late 2019.

Volkhov started construction in July 2017 and was launched in December 2019. An additional two submarines in the class, Magadan and Ufa, are also under construction and on schedule for delivery by 2022.

Improved Kilo-class submarines displace between 3,000 and 4,000 tons while submerged and have a range of 7,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 7 knots. They have an autonomy of 45 days, a stated diving depth of 240 m and the maximum depth of 300 m.

Improved Kilo-class submarines have six torpedo tubes and can carry 18 torpedoes and surface-to-air missiles. The Black Sea Fleet submarines have also tested their ability to carry and launch the Kalibr land-attack cruise missiles.