Lada-class submarine
Russian diesel electric patrol submarines
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Lada class, Russian designation Project 677 Lada (Russian: Лада, meaning "Lada", NATO reporting name St. Petersburg) is the class of diesel-electric attack submarine designed by the Russian Rubin Design Bureau. A program to develop a "fourth generation" diesel-electric submarine aimed to produce an improved version of the Project 636 with better acoustic signature, new combat systems and possibly air-independent propulsion. However, in 2019, Alexander Buzakov, the head of the Admiralty Shipyard, indicated that there were no plans to equip the Lada class with an air-independent propulsion system.[4][5] In July 2022, it was reported that efforts to produce an electrochemical generator capable of making hydrogen from a combination of diesel fuel and oxygen was resuming as the designers signed a new contract in 2019. This was scheduled to be completed by the mid-2020s.[6] In 2023, the decision was taken to decommission and scrap the lead ship of the class, the Sankt Peterburg due to the very high costs of modernizing the submarine.[7]
Russian NavyLada–class profile | |
.jpg) B-585 Sankt Peterburg | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lada class |
| Builders | Admiralty Shipyard, Saint Petersburg |
| Operators | Russian Navy |
| Preceded by | Kilo class |
| Succeeded by | |
| Built | 1997–present |
| In service | 2010–present |
| Planned | c. 9[1] [2] |
| Building | 2 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Active | 2 |
| Retired | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Attack submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 72 m (236 ft 3 in); 67 m (219 ft 10 in) on waterline |
| Beam | 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power | 2,700 hp (2,013 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 7,500nm at 3 knots (13,800 km) submerged |
| Endurance | 45 days |
| Test depth | 300 m (984 ft) |
| Complement | 35 officers and men |
| Sensors & processing systems | Litiy CICS |
| Armament |
|
History
The lead boat of the class, named Sankt Peterburg, was originally laid down in December 1997 alongside a second boat meant for export (Project 677E, apparently for India) that never got past initial construction and was very similar to the Project 677 boat.[8] The lead boat was launched in October 2004 and began sea trials in November 2005. The submarine was transferred to the Russian Navy in April 2010.[9]
Another two vessels were under construction at the Admiralty Shipyard[when?] with plans to launch four to six submarines by 2015. In 2009, the Russian Navy had set out a requirement for a total of eight St. Petersburg-class submarines.[10] Indonesia had indicated its interest in acquiring two St. Petersburg-class submarines, but the deal fell through before 2010 due to financing issues.[11]
In November 2011, the Russian Navy decided that this class of submarines would not be accepted into service, as the lead boat had fallen far short of requirements during tests.[12] The lead boat was retained as a test vessel to experiment with various systems. The construction of the remaining boats of the class was frozen.
On 27 July 2012, the Russian Navy commander-in-chief announced the resumption of the construction of the St. Petersburg-class submarines, having undergone extensive design changes.[citation needed] In 2013 and 2015, two further boats were re-laid and commissioning was expected in 2017 and 2018.[citation needed]
On 20 September 2018, the first serial submarine of the class, B-586 Kronshtadt, was launched at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.[13]
In June 2017, the Russian Navy announced it planned to order two more Lada-class submarines,[14] and the build contract was signed in June 2019, during the International Military-Technical Forum «ARMY-2019».[15] One more sub was ordered in August 2020, during the International Military-Technical Forum «ARMY-2020»,[16][17] with some speculation that all six of the submarines currently on order, or alternatively up to six of the eventual total number of Lada-class boats, might eventually be deployed with the Baltic Fleet.[18]
In July 2025, Russian president Putin stated that at least nine submarines of the class would be built.[19]
Design
The project 677 St. Petersburg is a Russian diesel-electric submarine developed in the late 1990s. The submarine is designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, defense of naval bases, seashore and sea lanes, as well as for conducting reconnaissance.[citation needed] The class marks the first usage of a mono-hull design by the Russian navy for an attack submarine since the 1940s.
Displacement is 25% lower than that of its predecessor, the Kilo-class submarine, but its capabilities are greatly enhanced.[20] Top submerged speed is 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph), up from 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)s for the Kilo class. The class is designed for an endurance of 45 days with a complement of 35.
The submarine is equipped with automated combat control system Litiy (meaning "Lithium").[citation needed]
A variant designated as the project 1650 Amur-class submarine is offered as an export model.[citation needed]
Units
| # | Name | Builders | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fleet | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-585 | Sankt Peterburg | Admiralty Shipyards | 26 December 1997 | 28 October 2004 | 8 May 2010 | 5 February 2024[21] | Northern[note 1] | Decommissioned, to be scrapped[22][23][7] | Prototype. Subsequent boats are heavily redesigned. |
| B-586 | Kronshtadt | 28 July 2005 | 20 September 2018[13] | 31 January 2024[24] | Northern[note 1][25][26] | Active[27][28][29] | Construction stopped due to multiple issues with B-585 Sankt Peterburg, resumed on 9 July 2013. | ||
| B-587 | Velikiye Luki | 19 March 2015[30] | 23 December 2022[31] | 16 December 2025[32] | Baltic[33][34][35] | Active | Laid down on 10 November 2006, re-laid in 2015 due to a redesign. | ||
| Vologda | 12 June 2022[36] | 2026[37] | Northern[35] | Under construction | |||||
| Yaroslavl | 12 June 2022[36] | 2026[38] | Northern[35] | Under construction | |||||
| TBA | Northern | Ordered[18] | Pending as of 2025[update][37] |
See also
Equivalent submarines of the same era
