In 2016, Russia launched the last of its planned procurement of six Project 636.3 third generation large diesel electric attack submarines, having laid the keel of the third Project 677, the second of the modified design, medium displacement fourth generation diesel electric attack submarine, the previous year, both events marking significant milestones in the rejuvenation of the Russian Federation Navy non-nuclear attack submarine fleet.
This volume sets out to detail the stable of Russian designed and built third and fourth generation large/medium displacement diesel electric attack submarines in service or development in the second decade of the 21st century, commencing with the modernised Project 877 and new build Project 636/636.3 (NATO reporting name ‘Kilo’) designs of the third generation, leading to the fourth generation Project 677 and Amur 1650/950 designs.
The evolution of Russian/Soviet submarine building is detailed, leading to the third and fourth generation designs in service in 2016. International co-operation designs are detailed, specifically the Italian-Russian S-1000 medium displacement fourth generation diesel electric submarine jointly developed by the Fincantieri Naval Vessel Business Unit in Italy and the Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering Rubin in Russia.
The various control, sensor, communications, navigation and weapons systems employed by or available for the respective Russian submarine designs are detailed. All technical information regarding the submarines, systems and weapons, has been provided by the respective design houses, developers and builders, as has the majority of the photographs and graphics used throughout the volume.