December 4, 2011: Russia has begun construction of its second
"Improved Kilo" class diesel-electric submarine. These are mostly for
the export market, although the Russian Navy is buying a few more of
this improved model as well. The Kilos weigh 2,300 tons (surface
displacement), have six torpedo tubes and a crew of 57. They are quiet,
and can travel about 700 kilometers under water at a quiet speed of
about five kilometers an hour. Kilos carry 18 torpedoes or SS-N-27
anti-ship missiles (with a range of 300 kilometers and launched
underwater from the torpedo tubes.) The combination of quietness and
cruise missiles makes Kilo very dangerous to American carriers. But for
the Russians, their Kilos are mostly for home defense. Nuclear subs are
used for the long distance work. The successor to the Kilo, the Lada,
underwent three years of sea trials before they were declared fit for
service two years ago. One has been built and another is under
construction and eight are planned. The problem with the Lada is that it
is not enough of an improvement on the latest Kilo to attract any
export orders.
The Kilo class boats entered service in the early 1980s.
Russia only bought 24 of them, but exported over 30. It was considered a
successful design, especially with export customers. But just before
the Cold War ended in 1991, the Soviet Navy began work on the Lada. This
project was stalled during most of the 1990s by a lack of money, but
was revived in the last decade.
The Ladas have six 533mm torpedo tubes, with 18 torpedoes
and/or missiles carried. The Lada has a surface displacement of 1,750
tons, are 71 meters (220 feet) long and carry a crew of 38. Each
crewmember has their own cabin (very small for the junior crew, but
still, a big morale boost). When submerged, the submarine can cruise at a
top speed of about 39 kilometers an hour (half that on the surface) and
can dive to about 250 meters (800 feet). The Lada can stay at sea for
as long as 50 days, and the sub can travel as much as 10,000 kilometers
using its diesel engine (underwater, via the snorkel). Submerged, using
battery power alone, the Lada can travel about 450 kilometers. There is
also an electronic periscope (which goes to the surface via a cable),
that includes a night vision capability and a laser range finder. The
Lada was designed to accept a AIP (air independent propulsion) system.
Russia was long a pioneer in AIP design, but in the last decade, Western
European nations have taken the lead. Construction on the first Lada
began in 1997, but money shortages delayed work for years. The first
Lada boat was finally completed in 2005. A less complex version, called
the Amur, is being offered for export.
The Ladas are designed to be fast attack and scouting boats.
They are intended for anti-surface and anti-submarine operations as
well as naval reconnaissance. These boats are said to be eight times
quieter than the Kilos. This was accomplished by using anechoic (sound
absorbing) tile coatings on the exterior, and a very quiet (skewed)
propeller. All interior machinery was designed with silence in mind. The
sensors include active and passive sonars, including towed passive
sonar.
Russia has 17 Kilos in service (and six in reserve) and six
Improved Kilos on order. More than that is on order from foreign
customers, and efforts to sell the Lada continue.
* Notícia publicada a Strategy Page. Creiem convenient anar seguint l'evolució dels dissenys submarins russos, especialment en el cas dels de propulsió convencional ( dièsel / elèctric), doncs són els que tenen més opcions d'exportació.
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