"Varshavyanka" - class diesel-electric submarine.

MOSCOW, August 12 (RIA Novosti)

The first in the series of six Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines, built for Crimea-based Black Sea Fleet, will be put in service with the Russian Navy on August 22, a Navy spokesman said on Tuesday.

“On August 22, St. Andrew's flag of the Russian Navy will be raised on diesel-electric submarine Novorossiisk at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg,” Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said.

According to the spokesman, the submarine is currently undergoing the second testing phase in the Baltic Sea and will soon arrive at the Admiralty Shipyards.

Construction of the Novorossiisk submarine started in August 2010, followed by the Rostov-on-Don sub in November 2011, the Stary Oskol in August 2012, and the Krasnodar in February 2014.

The much-anticipated delivery of these submarines, dubbed by the US Navy as “black holes in the ocean” because they are nearly undetectable when submerged, is a key part of Russia’s naval strategy in the Mediterranean, where Moscow has recently deployed a permanent task force consisting of some 10 surface ships.

The Varshavyanka-class (Project 636.3) is an improved version of the Kilo-class submarines and features advanced stealth technology, extended combat range and the ability to strike land, surface and underwater targets.

These submarines are mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions in relatively shallow waters.

The vessels, crewed by 52 submariners, have an underwater speed of 20 knots, a cruising range of 400 miles (electric propulsion) with the ability to patrol for 45 days. They are armed with 18 torpedoes and eight surface-to-air missiles.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet has not received new submarines for decades and currently operates only one boat – the Kilo-class Alrosa, which joined the Navy in 1990.

MOSCOW, November 7 (RIA Novosti)

Russia will deliver the two more Varshavyanka class diesel-electric submarines to Vietnam in 2014, a defense industry source said Thursday.

The Varshavyanka-class (Project 636) is an improved version of the Kilo-class submarines and features advanced stealth technology, extended combat range and the ability to strike land, surface and underwater targets.

Vietnam in 2009 ordered six of the Russian-made submarines -- dubbed “black holes in the ocean” by the US Navy because they are nearly undetectable when submerged -- in a step seen as an effort to counterbalance China’s expanding maritime influence in the region.

According to the defense industry source, the first craft in the order is to be loaded on a stevedore barge on November 11 and towed to Vietnam, where it will be officially transferred to the country’s navy.

“The second vessel will be delivered in the beginning of next year, possibly in January, while the third will be also transferred in 2014,” the source said.

The contract, which also includes provision for the training of Vietnamese submarine crews in Russia, is reportedly worth $2 billion.

The submarines are being built at St. Petersburg’s Admiralty Shipyards. All six boats are due for delivery by 2016.

The source also said Thursday that three Varshavyanka-class submarines will be delivered by Admiralty Shipyards to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet next year.

Work on building the first sub, the Novorossiisk, began in August 2010, followed by Rostov-on-Don in November 2011 and Stary Oskol in August 2012.

The Project 636 class boats displace 3,100 tons, reach speeds of 20 knots, can dive to 300 meters and carry crews of 52 people.

The submarines, which feature 533-mm torpedo tubes and are armed with torpedoes, mines, and Kalibr 3M54 (NATO SS-N-27 Sizzler) cruise missiles, are mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions in relatively shallow waters.